[LINK] HIBIS: THE HIGHER BANDWIDTH INCENTIVE SCHEME

[Chirgwin, Richard]

David,

HiBIS was first announced last June as part of the responses to the Estens
report. At that time, its intent was to be a price equalisation scheme - so
that "higher" bandwidth services in rural/regional areas would get a subsidy
to make them more price competitive with city services.

Between then and now, it was changed somewhat. It was originally designed
for competitors to Telstra; Telstra is now able to apply for HiBIS funding
as well. It originally didn't specify broadband, which it does now (one of
the criteria for funding is whether or not the customer line can currently
support ISDN).

It was due to be launched in March, but ran about a month late. That's why
there aren't any service providers on the "list" yet - they're still
applying to be part of the scheme. 

Now about the availability map. It's working on my machine (ie, the "Am I
Eligible for a HiBIS Service?" map link) - what system/browser etc are you
using? Mind you, it's got a pretty horrid UI... For eg, I searched for
Princes Highway; when you get six or seven identical choices (Princes Fwy)
on the "further information", which one would you select? 

Selecting one of them displays a map, but the meaning of the map isn't
entirely clear. And the "info" button associated with the map doesn't
actually do anything... 

4/10, must try harder.

Pork barrel? You bet. But it is, in some ways, a better form of pork barrel
than many funding schemes; NTN for eg or ITOL or the TECC ...

RC

> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Boxall [mailto:david.boxall at hunterlink.net.au] 
> Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2004 1:49 PM
> To: Link
> Subject: [LINK] HIBIS: THE HIGHER BANDWIDTH INCENTIVE SCHEME
> 
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I don't remember seeing this mentioned on Link.
> 
>  From :    http://www.dcita.gov.au/telinfo/HiBIS%20page.htm
> 
> *What is HiBIS? *
> 
> The Australian Government is working with Internet service providers 
> (ISPs) to bring higher bandwidth broadband services to regional 
> Australia, in line with city prices, through a scheme called 
> HiBIS (the 
> Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme).
> 
> Under HiBIS, ISPs can apply to be a 'HiBIS provider'. This means they 
> will receive an incentive payment from the Government to 
> provide you, if 
> eligible, with higher speed broadband access in line with city prices.
> 
> HiBIS providers receive an incentive payment of $1540 for 
> premises with 
> access to faster Internet services over a digital phone line 
> (known as 
> ISDN), or $3300 for premises without this access (to allow for the 
> higher cost of satellite services). You benefit because providers use 
> these incentive payments to reduce the price of services or 
> to help fund 
> the cost of rolling out cheaper services to new areas.
> 
> . . .
> 
> *What is a threshold service? *
> 
> A HiBIS threshold service has a peak download data speed of at least 
> 256kbps (at least five times faster than normal dialup 
> Internet) and a 
> peak upload speed of at least 64kbps with a monthly usage 
> allowance of 
> at least 500MB and be offered at a price for a three year package, 
> including equipment, installation and monthly usage of no more than:
> 
>     * $2500 where the service is an ADSL service, or
>     * $3000 where the service is not an ADSL service.
> 
> 
> 
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