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Recognising the importance of broadband to the community and its development, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, in consultation with representatives from all the major local community sectors, has developed a Broadband Agenda and applied for funding under the Federal Minister's Broadband Connect funding program.

The key aim of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Expression of Interest to the Minister's Broadband Connect Funding plan is to demonstrate the need to provide broadband services to all potential consumers on an equitable basis.

"There can be no argument that broadband is critical to the economic health of regional centres," said General Manager, Mr Bernard Smith. "Broadband is critical in enabling us to build knowledge-based communities. Not only do our residents expect these networks to be available; homecare for an ageing population requires very high-speed broadband - and so do educational and e-government services. Broadband services are a large part of promoting our region to investors and new homeowners. Broadband should be seen as a basic infrastructure like roads, water and sewerage - and similar to how the basic phone line is regarded."

"The facts show that Australians are rapidly taking up broadband, with Australia the fifth fastest growing broadband market in the OECD," said Mr Smith. "Without an aggressive infrastructure plan in place to address the needs of regional Australians, we believe it is now up to local Councils to become actively involved in the process. At no stage are we interested in becoming a mini-telco - we are interested in promoting, and helping fulfil, the needs of our residents. Over 1,500 councils around the world are involved in facilitating the building of new broadband infrastructure - it's an appropriate and timely response to the issue."

Port Macquarie-Council believes that it has created a local community broadband plan that can be replicated throughout the country, and it is willing to develop its plan as a showcase for other communities that are interested in becoming involved in a similar exercise.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has mapped the entire telecommunications infrastructure within their local government area - including its own networks as well as those of the local hospitals, schools, private telecommunications providers, ISPs and utilities. The mapping indicated significant infrastructure was already in place, which can be used for the community's broadband plan.

Council itself has been putting in fibre cable, or ducts for fibre cable in other infrastructure projects in which the council is involved, including a current upgrade and extension of the water and sewerage systems.

Port Macquarie is aware of the government's plan for an independent regional wholesale backbone network, and is working with the Wholesale Industry Group to create meet-me-points where the national network can be linked into the local network. These points would be neutral, and the Council envisages that, based on a set of open-access network principles, any local access provider will be able to obtain access to the Hastings local network. This will allow a good level of local access and local service competition.

As the regional varies greatly in its population density and geographic terrain, a range of alternative technologies are proposed. This includes provision of broadband fibre optics to the home in current urban areas; connection of a backbone fibre network linking urban growth areas; wireless networks to cover low-density coastal and rural residential area; and microwave links to rural villages with local wireless broadband services.

Isolated valleys and properties in the Hastings will be served with options that include broadband over power lines, satelite or wireless technologies.

The outcome of Port Macquarie's funding submission to the Australian Government will directly affect the progress of its broadband rollout plans.

Pending the outcome of the funding submission, the ongoing responsibility for the project will remain under the auspices of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council. However it is proposed to establish a broad of management, with a formal charter, to coordinate the delivery and operation of the proposed network. Council, continuing their role as the advocate for the greater community, will appoint the broad with representation from the Council, key supporting partners, industry, retailers and users.

Quelle/Source: Camden Haven Courier, 15.08.2006