Mike Crowe Broadband for the Bush Alliance- getting the...
Transcript of Mike Crowe Broadband for the Bush Alliance- getting the...
Broadband for the Bush AllianceAlliance
h f hGetting the most for the 7%
Mike CroweMike Crowe
Director –Digital Futures Program
Desert Knowledge Australia
Apolline Kohen
Senior Policy Adviser
Ninti One Limited
Broadband for the Bush Alliance1. Who we are – an emerging collaboration1. Who we are an emerging collaboration
2. How we work and our achievements to date
3. Our policies
4. Next steps
5. How you can be involved
Who we are:Who we are:In the words of our policy document:“The Broadband f th B h Alli (B4BA) i lli ffor the Bush Alliance (B4BA) is an alliance of organisations that seeks to advance the digital capacity and capability of remote Australians.
B4BA seeks the best possible communication t f th 7% f A t li t tloutcomes for the 7% of Australians not currently
scheduled to receive fibre‐to‐the‐premise through the National Broadband Network, and to advance unmet telephony needs, as a significant related issue.”
How did we startHow did we start
Broadband for the Bush Alliance was created following a national forum on
remote
Regular fortnightly
meetings from Jan 2013 –
June 2012 Delegation takes
message toremote telecommunications
in July 2012
Jan 2013 membership expands to 12
message to Canberra.
Website online.
Started as an Alliance between
six major organizations
May 2013 Initial policy
papers complete
September 2013
Alliance continues to
growgwith expertise in communications
in remote Australia
grow
Who were the initial six?Who were the initial six?Australian Communications Consumers Action NetworkConsumers Action Network
Centre for Appropriate Technology
Centre for Remote HealthCentre for Remote Health
Desert Knowledge Australia
Indigenous Remote CommunicationsIndigenous Remote Communications Association
Ninti One
The context:The context:
NBN Footprint Mobile CoverageNBN Footprint Mobile Coverage
The context: NBN is onThe context: NBN is on its way – but what about the bush
Why did we start?Why did we start?
Our Concern:Our Concern:
• Despite the improvement that NBN offers – there is a risk that the gap between those scheduled to get fibre and the % li i id h fib f i ill7% living outside the fibre footprint will grow.
• Telecommunications is about more than just broadband but includes mobile coverage.includes mobile coverage.
The need:
A group to speak on behalf of remote and rural Australia to make the most of the improvements in
telecommunicationstelecommunications.
Our AimsOur Aims
• A shared voice to advocate for the bestA shared voice to advocate for the best possible telecommunications for remote Australians;
id i l i id• Provide a single access point to a wide range of organisations with expertise and interest in achieving the best possible digital outcomes for remote Australians;
• Coordinate and support trials/ collaborations/projects/researchcollaborations/projects/research between Alliance members aimed at achieving improved digital outcomes
How do we work?
An evolving collaboration: fortnightlyfortnightly
teleconference meetings develop
policyDesert Knowledge A li f ili
Members from : regional development, local govt,
service delivery, Australia facilitates
the Alliance.
y,research, Indigenous organisations or communications
advocacy organisations.
All members provide a contribution.
Every organisation has an equal voice.
Membership is non‐binding
Our current members broadbandforthebush.com.auOur current members
Our activity to date
• Grown from six to 14 members organisationsGrown from six to 14 members organisations
• Jointly developed three key policy documents:
Better telecommunications for rural and remote Australians
Rethinking the Indigenous Communications Policy
E t di t d l ll lExtending remote and rural cellular coverage
• The website went on line June 2013
• Delegation to Canberra• Delegation to Canberra.
Taking our policies to CanberraCanberra
The Delegation:The Delegation:
• Met with 17 key politicians to push for better telecommunications for remote and rural A liAustralians.
• Pushed for a specific remote and rural telecommunications policy.telecommunications policy.
• Well received with:1) The creation of a Portfolio for Regional Communications in
subsequent weeks andsubsequent weeks and
2) Coalitions mobile network expansion program ($80M) strongly reflecting our policy’s wording
The DelegationThe Delegation
Andrew Crouch (CAT)( )
Daniel Featherstone (IRCA)
Mi h l G iffi (IRCA)Michael Griffin (IRCA)
Ray Heffernan (RAPAD)
John Huigen(DKA)
Our policyOur policy
Remote and rural Australia needs a dedicatedRemote and rural Australia needs a dedicated communications strategy
Seven ways the Government could improve remote and rural telecommunications:
1. The expansion of mobile coverage
2. Getting digital infrastructure right – both the rational use of existing infrastructure and expanding infrastructure
3. Smart last mile solutions for small towns and communities
4. Affordable pricing for mobile calls in remote and rural Australia4. Affordable pricing for mobile calls in remote and rural Australia
5. Improved digital literacy
6. Good research to underpin remote communications policy
7 I i I di i ti7. Improving Indigenous communications programs
Issue: Expanding mobile coverageIssue: Expanding mobile coverage
Findings of the Regional Telecommunications ReviewTelecommunications Review• “The predominant concern raised… by regional Australians is the adequacy of
mobile voice and broadband services”mobile voice and broadband services • “This issue was raised in every regional consultation and in around two‐thirds of
the submissions…”• “Mobile communication is considered essential for people to run businesses, work
in remote areas, to encourage tourism and growth, and to have reliable communications in emergency situations”.
• “The committee recommends a co‐investment program, jointly funded by the Commonwealth and interested states or territory governments, to expand theCommonwealth and interested states or territory governments, to expand the mobile coverage footprint in regional Australia, focussing on priority regions selected with community input….”
2011 12 R i l T l i ti R i2011‐12 Regional Telecommunications Review
NT Telstra NextG
coverage
SE Australia Telstra NextG
coverageg
Mobile policies to dateMobile policies to date• Government policy ‐mobile coverage is a matter for the market
BUT
Small populations not economically viable => Market failure
• No significant Commonwealth funding since 2007 (in contrast with fixed NBN funding)
• Recent State / Territory initiatives– Royalties for Regions (WA) 1/2012: 113 new base station sites– NT Government / Telstra announced 4/2013: 8 new sites
Current Policy Positionsy
• Joint Parliamentary Committee on the NBN (Feb 2013)• Joint Parliamentary Committee on the NBN (Feb 2013)recommended“that the Government support the NBNCo to continue to …facilitate private providers use of NBNCo infrastructure to provide and improve mobile telephone services and coverage across Australia, particularly in regional and remote areas”.
• Coalition recently announced $80m for extended regional and remote mobile coverage not matched by Labormobile coverage, not matched by Labor
• Both major parties plan to share NBN wireless towers, but most such locations are near regional towns that already have mobile coverage ( f )(sharing NBN backhaul would be more useful)
NBN ( i l )NBN (wireless) coverageQueensland
B4BA Policy Proposalsf di bilfor expanding mobile coverage 1Consider other approaches for incremental remote & rural expansion to small
populations, including a mix of:
• Satellite backhaul (using commercial or NBN capacity) ‐ a few Australian examples and common overseas
• Terrestrial microwave + microcell base stations
• Sharing of remote area Telstra‐owned HCRC phone towers
where cost effective as alternatives to fibre
B4BA Policy Proposalsf di bilfor expanding mobile coverage 2
• Lease surplus backhaul capacity from satellite provider => low capex, fast rollout
• Terrestrial microwave backhaul => high capex, but low opex and more cost effective over long term
OVERALL – Propose detailed feasibility assessment of the options by all stakeholders
Issue: Rethinking The Indigenous Communications Program (ICP)
The Current ICP Program
• Commonwealth funded initiative with service delivery by State Government agencies, to provide ICT facilities & training in 70 remote communities
• Comprises community Internet access centres, community payphones mobile sat phonespayphones, mobile sat phones
• Internet access funding continues to FY 2014, but only for ( )existing (Government designated) recipients
B4BA Policy Proposals
• Pick and fund winners: communities with track record and suitable building facilities
• Engage Indigenous organisations & NGOs with ‘on the ground’• Engage Indigenous organisations & NGOs with on the ground knowledge
• Consider alternative / complementary delivery models:– Home based Internet access – Portable (smart phones, tablets) Internet access with pervasive
community WiFi– Recurrent funded regional or sub‐regional support through NGOs e.g.
Regional Indigenous Media Organisations
The Home Internet ProgramThe Home Internet Program
Related B4BA Policy P lProposals
• Extend NBN ‘Digital Hubs’ awareness raising & training program to areas other than early release fibre sites (where benefit is arguably greater)benefit is arguably greater)
• Affordable pricing for mobile calls in remote and rural Australia – combating the ‘Tyranny of Distance’
C l t i ti fi d li ‘ t d d ’ h ( i h– Complement existing fixed line ‘extended zones’ scheme (voice phone calls within own and adjacent zones at untimed local call rate) with a mobile equivalent
– Mobile phone now the instrument of choice line scheme becomingMobile phone now the instrument of choice line scheme becoming less effective over time
Next Steps for the Alliance ...Next Steps for the Alliance ...
• The Alliance continues to input comment on and input into Government policy
• Focus now is on building a wider network
• Six weekly Project Update meetings – for wider network
• The third Broadband for the Bush Forum planned for March 2014
•Mike Crowe
Join the AllianceJoin the Alliance
• Join the Alliance and contribute financially or in other ways,
/• or simply become part of a wider network to be informed/ participate in the Alliance activities.
Contact: Mike Crowe
08 8959 601408 8959 6014
Or check out our website:
http://broadbandforthebush.com.au/