[LINK] Why the NBN business model is deeply flawed

[Karl Schaffarczyk]

Tom, Linkers,

I think it is worth noting that Bradfield is an eastern suburbs electorate
whose constituents are spoiled for choice between many DSL providers,
cellular providers, Optus and Telstra cable.

The NBN won't really make a jot of difference to Paul's electorate, and
will probably cost them in taxes with nil benefit to them.

Try getting a rurally based conservative MP to knock the NBN. Like Alby
Schultz MP, Liberal for Hume.

I will eat my hat if he is heard knocking the NBN. (except to say it's not
giving enough people fibre, or not being rolled out quick enough)

Karl



Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:05:43 +1100
> From: Tom Worthington <tom.worthington at tomw.net.au>
> Subject: [LINK] Why the NBN business model is deeply flawed
> To: link at mailman.anu.edu.au
> Message-ID: <4F3C1E27.1000802 at tomw.net.au>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
>
> Paul Fletcher MP, will speak on "Why the NBN business model is deeply
> flawed ...?" at the Australian Computer Society meeting in Canberra, 12
> Noon 28 February 2012:
>
> https://www.acs.org.au/act/index.cfm?action=event&area=9002&temID=eventdetails&eveID=30224664535724
>
> ---
> ACS TSA Communication SIG
> Why the NBN business model is deeply flawed ...?
> Why it matters from a public policy perspective
>
> Paul will present the case that, as a standalone business model, the NBN
> is fundamentally flawed. It is far too costly ? reflecting political
> decisions. Its take up assumptions are extremely unrealistic, and are
> unlikely to be met. This matters because taxpayers are paying; and if it
> is a commercial failure it will also be a public policy failure, with
> the likely result being collapse well before the build is complete.
> There is no cost benefit analysis to demonstrate that public benefits
> exceed the costs. Early signs confirm the view that the business case is
> flawed. The better approach for Government support of broadband is to
> focus on areas of broadband need, focus on ubiquitous services rather
> than the highest speeds, make the private sector the driver with
> government subsidies appropriately targeted where necessary, and to
> promote a funding model that is sustainable in the long term.
>
> Biography: Paul Fletcher MP, Member for Bradfield
>
> Paul Fletcher was first elected to the Federal Parliament as the Member
> for Bradfield at a by-election in December 2009 and was subsequently
> re-elected with an increased majority in August 2010. Prior to entering
> Parliament, Paul was the principal of a strategic consulting firm
> serving the communications sector and before that was Director,
> Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, at Optus for eight years. He is a
> well-known figure in communications policy in Australia and recently
> wrote a highly regarded book on broadband and telecommunications, Wired
> Brown Land. Paul previously worked as Senior Advisor, and then Chief of
> Staff to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the
> Arts, Senator Richard Alston, during the Howard Government. He has dual
> first class honours degrees in law and economics from The University of
> Sydney and an MBA from Columbia University in New York where he was a
> Fulbright Scholar.
>
> About this Event
>
> Date: Tuesday 28th February 2012
> Time: 12:00pm for 12:15pm start finish 1:45pm
> Register On-line:
>
> https://ibs.acs.org.au/events/event/EventRegister.aspx?operatedById=9002&eveID=30224664535724&id=
> ---
>
> --
> Tom Worthington FACS CP, TomW Communications Pty Ltd. t: 0419496150
> PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617, Australia  http://www.tomw.net.au
> Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards
> Legislation
>
> Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Research School of Computer Science,
> Australian National University http://cs.anu.edu.au/courses/COMP7310/
>
>
>