Media & FAQs

Media releases

Frequently asked questions

1. Where can I view my submission or submissions made from my region?

The Submissions page is being loaded with submissions as they come in. Please allow time for us to publish them on our website.

You are welcome to contact us if more than two weeks have passed and you cannot see your submission.

The loaded submissions state the name and region of the person or organisation making the submission. We hope to have a search function available shortly so the titles can be searched for terms such as ‘shire’ or Qld.

2. Can I still make a submission to the 2011–12 Regional Telecommunications Review?

The deadline for receiving submissions has been passed. Please contact the secretariat if you have experienced exceptional circumstances and would still like to make a submission. The Submissions page contains further information.

3. What kind of issues are the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review committee assessing?

In its review of telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia, the committee will have particular regard for initiatives that enable regional communities to participate in, and realise the opportunities of, the digital economy.

4. Why is the committee only assessing telecommunications issues?

The 2002 Regional Telecommunications Inquiry (the Estens Inquiry) recommended that the government put in place a process to regularly review telecommunications services in regional areas and to assess whether important new service advancements are delivered equitably.

In 2005, the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999was amended to establish the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee and to ensure regular reviews of the adequacy of the telecommunication services in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia. The amendments required the first review to commence before the end of 2008, and subsequent reviews to occur three years after the government responds to each preceding review.

5. How has the government responded to the recommendations of the Glasson Committee?

The first Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee, chaired by Dr Bill Glasson AO, assessed telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia during 2007–08.

The committee’s report, known as the Glasson Report, was tabled in Parliament on 15 October 2008.In response to the Glasson Report, the government committed $74 million for three programs:

  • The $60 million Digital Regions Initiative funds innovative broadband applications that improve education, health and emergency services in regional areas.
  • $8.9 million was provided to continue and enhance the Satellite Phone Subsidy Scheme for Australians living and working in areas without terrestrial mobile coverage.
  • An additional $4.7 million was provided for the refocused Indigenous Communications Program to improve basic telecommunications services, basic public internet access and training to remote Indigenous communities. This brought the total funding for this program to $31 million

The 2008 Glasson Report and the government’s Statement of Response is available on the Department of Broadband, Communications the Digital Economy’s website on the Regional Telecommunications Review page

6. When will the 2011-12 committee report its findings?

The 2011–12 Regional Telecommunications Independent Review committee will report to the government by 5 March 2012.

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