[LINK] Labor commits to $4.5b high-speed Internet network

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

Labor commits to $4.5b high-speed Internet network
ABC news
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1877739.htm

The Federal Labor leader Kevin Rudd has pledged more than $4.5 billion to build a nationwide Internet broadband network.

Mr Rudd says the network will deliver high-speed Internet access to 98 per cent of Australians within five years.

The money will come from the existing Communications Fund and the Telstra Future Fund.

Mr Rudd says the Government has failed to act on providing high-speed Internet access.

"There's been inaction, inaction big time when it comes to the development of an effective national broadband network to meet the future demands of the Australian economy," he said.

"This is a gaping hole in the Government's economic performance to date, it is retarding the development of Australian business, in particular small business in the future and we look forward to taking this proposal forward to the Australian community."

Mr Rudd says the new network would be done in partnership with the private sector and would run at speeds up to 40 times faster than most current broadband.

"We regard this as an important part of nation building for the future," he said.

"Nation building in the 19th century was about building a new national railway network for Australia, nation building for the 21st century lies in building a new national broadband network."

-- 
Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Sydney Australia
brd at iimetro.com.au