Australian Broadband Guarantee for Canning
"People living in Canning will now be able to access high quality, reasonably priced broadband services thanks to the Australian Government's $162.5 million Australian Broadband Guarantee" said Don Randall.
The Australian Broadband Guarantee will provide universal broadband for all Australians, and fill in any remaining broadband black spots across Australia.
"Anyone in Canning that is unable to gain a reasonable level of broadband service at their principal place of residence or small business will be able to receive a subsidised broadband service, either a satellite service or a registered terrestrial service if it is available. It's as simple as that," said Mr Randall.
Mr Randall said he was frequently contacted by residents, particularly from Canning Vale, Forrestdale, Roleystone, Jarrahdale and Serpentine, frustrated by the lack of broadband services available to their homes.
For Canning the benefits of the Australian Broadband Guarantee include the availability of increased subsidies of up to $2,750 per connection in parts of the Canning electorate. This means that areas such as Armadale, Kelmscott, Roleystone and Waroona will receive up to a five-fold increase in their subsidy from $500 to $2,750.
Other areas in the electorate including Pinjarra, Byford, Serpentine, Jarrahdale and Dwellingup were eligible under the Broadband Connect incentive scheme and these areas remain eligible under the new program.
The Guarantee will be very similar to the Australian Government's popular and highly successful $878 million Broadband Connect program. The Guarantee will continue to give eligible consumers subsidised, price capped broadband with a guaranteed minimum level of service, but with the benefit of simpler eligibility requirements.
"The Australian Government has already provided substantial funding that has seen over 1636 homes and businesses in Canning get a subsidised high quality broadband service," said Mr Randall.
The Guarantee will also provide a smooth transition to the Australian Government's $600 million Broadband Connect infrastructure program, which will rollout sustainable and scalable next generation broadband infrastructure in rural, regional and remote areas of Australia.
The first phase of the Australian Broadband Guarantee will run until June 2008 when the funds from the Government's $2 billion Communications Fund will come on stream. This will mean the Government can continue the Australian Broadband Guarantee for as long as in necessary to ensure all Australians have access to affordable broadband regardless of where they live.
More details on the Australian Broadband Guarantee are available at www.dcita.gov.au/broadband_guarantee