1. The Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee must conduct a review of the adequacy of telecommunications services in regional, rural, and remote parts of Australia.
  2. In determining the adequacy of those services, the Committee must have regard to whether people in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia have equitable access to telecommunications services that are significant to people in those parts of Australia, and currently available in one or more parts of urban Australia.
  3. In conducting the review, the Committee must make provision for public consultation and consultation with people in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia.
  4. In conducting the review, the Committee is to have regard to:
    1. the impact of the Government's policies and programs for improving connectivity, competition and digital literacy in regional, rural and remote areas, including rollout of the National Broadband Network, the Mobile Black Spot Program, the Regional Connectivity Program and the Regional Tech Hub;
    2. insights from COVID-19 on consumer access to and usage of broadband and mobile technology in regional, rural and remote areas;
    3. emerging technologies that could lead to significant changes in how telecommunications services are delivered in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia in the next 5-10 years;
    4. service reliability and impacts on customers and communities in regional and remote areas.
  5. Taking into account Term of Reference 4, the Committee is to consider:
    1. whether changes are warranted to existing Government policies and programs to ensure they continue to be effective, fit for purpose and are maximising the social and economic potential from existing and emerging technological advances;
    2. policy settings that might be needed to support more rapid rollout of and investment in new telecommunications technologies in regional areas;
    3. ways in which improvements in digital connectivity could support the Government's broader regional development policies and priorities, such as decentralisation and the development of Northern Australia;
    4. ways in which State, Territory, and Federal programs to support regional connectivity could be further coordinated.
  6. The report may set out recommendations to the Australian Government.
  7. In formulating a recommendation that the Australian Government should take a particular action, the Committee must assess the costs and benefits of that action.
  8. The Committee must prepare a report of the review by 31 December 2021 or earlier and give it to the Minister for Regional Communications.