[LINK] NBN Applications in the 2012/2013 Federal Budget

[Tom Worthington]

The ABC has pointed out some projects to use the NBN 
<http://blog.tomw.net.au/2012/05/nbn-applications-in-20122013-federal.html> 
in the federal budget (NBN facts and fallout from the Budget 
<http://www.abc.net.au/technology/articles/2012/05/16/3503921.htm>, 
David Braue, 16 May 2012). I missed these in my IT in the Budget Summary 
<http://blog.tomw.net.au/2012/05/it-matters-of-interest-in-20122013.html>. 
Obviously none of the initiatives labelled as using the NBN are actually 
dependent on the NBN and will work just as well on existing high speed 
networks. If the NBN did not exist, the government might well be doing 
exactly the same projects, just without the NBN branding. But they do 
point the way to how government can provide better and cheaper services 
where ubiquitous high speed networking is available. Also exactly how to 
deliver services online, build software and train staff will take many 
years, so it is good to start before then NBN is widely deployed. 
Another NBN related item is re-stacking the radio spectrum freed up in 
the switch to digital TV. This will make available large sections of 
radio frequency, ideal to provide a wireless complement to the fixed NBN 
infrastructure.

    Virtual English Tuition for Migrants
    <http://www.budget.gov.au/2012-13/content/bp2/html/bp2_expense-14.htm>

    The Government will provide $5.0 million over three years to pilot
    virtual English tuition via the National Broadband Network (NBN).
    Starting in 2012, the service will support new migrants living in
    Regional Australia with a distance learning package that complements
    the Adult Migrant English Program.

    The trial will have two phases. Phase one will provide enhanced
    distance learning online resources for teachers and home tutors
    while phase two will deliver interactive services in communities
    connected to the NBN.

    The program will be reviewed in 2013‑14 to test the viability of
    expanding the services nationwide.

    Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward
    estimates.

    Further information can be found in the joint press release of 7
    February 2012 issued by the Minister for Immigration and
    Citizenship, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the
    Digital Economy and the Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and
    Multicultural Affairs.

    Remote Hearing and Vision Services for Children program
    <http://www.budget.gov.au/2012-13/content/ministerial_statements/indigenous/html/indigenous-04.htm>



    The Government is providing $4.9 million over three years to improve
    access to allied health and education services to an additional 125
    children with hearing and/or vision impairment in outer regional and
    remote Australia. This program will be delivered across Australia in
    2012‑13.

    Utilising the National Broadband Network (NBN) where available,
    children and their families will have access to information,
    guidance, support, and skills development from qualified allied
    health and education services where such expertise may otherwise be
    scarce in regional and remote locations. The program will be
    delivered via a combination of high definition videoconferencing,
    mailed packages with lesson plans, information sheets, multi–media
    resources, telephone, fax, and email. In regions where the NBN is
    being rolled out, the government will provide for upgrades to
    existing videoconferencing infrastructure to ensure it is of high
    definition quality.

    Attorney-General's
    <http://www.budget.gov.au/2012-13/content/ministerial_statements/rural_and_regional/html/rural_and_regional-04.htm>National
    Broadband Network Regional Legal Assistance Program

    The National Broadband Network (NBN) Regional Legal Assistance
    Program provides grant funding to trial NBN-based initiatives that
    seek to strengthen and increase legal assistance delivery in
    regional and remote areas. Legal assistance providers will be funded
    to trial the use of the NBN in innovative service delivery as well
    as to support regional or remote legal assistance staff. The total
    Program funding is $4.0 million over four years.

    Digital Productivity — putting museums online for public access
    <http://www.budget.gov.au/2012-13/content/bp2/html/bp2_expense-04.htm>

    The Government will provide $2.4 million over two years from 2011‑12
    (including $0.4 million in capital funding in 2011‑12 and $0.02
    million in 2012‑13) to provide online remote access to national
    cultural institutions to help demonstrate the opportunities offered
    by the National Broadband Network (NBN).

    Using the high bandwidth capability of the NBN, visitors will be
    able to undertake virtual tours of these institutions via mobile
    robots. Users will be able to engage and interact with local
    visitors and tour guides and will be provided with a range of
    additional on‑screen information to enhance their experience.

    Funding for this measure was included as a 'decision taken but not
    yet announced' in the 2011‑12 Budget.

    This measure is part of the Government's broader digital economy
    strategy.

    National Broadband Network — regional and remote information
    <http://www.budget.gov.au/2012-13/content/bp2/html/bp2_expense-04.htm>

    The Government has provided $20.0 million in 2011‑12 to improve
    public understanding, address misconceptions and provide updated
    information about the National Broadband Network (NBN).

    These activities will be focused on regional and remote areas where
    access to the NBN will be provided through fixed wireless and
    satellite services.budget

    National Broadband Network — support for NBN Co‑Telstra Definitive
    Agreements
    <http://www.budget.gov.au/2012-13/content/bp2/html/bp2_expense-04.htm>

    The Government provided $321.6 million on 30 March 2012 to Telstra
    to support the Definitive Agreements between NBN Co and Telstra, as
    agreed in June 2010.

    In June 2010, NBN Co and Telstra entered into a series of agreements
    regarding the use of Telstra's infrastructure and the progressive
    migration of Telstra's customers to the National Broadband Network.
    In support of the agreements, the Government committed to provide
    approximately $2 billion of value through a series of public policy
    reforms and a payment to Telstra, the value of which equated to
    $190.0 million post‑tax in net present value terms.

    Provision for this funding was included in the Contingency Reserve
    in the 2011‑12 Budget.

    Further information can be found in the joint press release of 7
    March 2012 issued by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation and
    the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

    Human Services Video Conferencing
    <http://www.budget.gov.au/2012-13/content/ministerial_statements/rural_and_regional/html/rural_and_regional-12.htm>

    The Government, through a collaborative effort, will pilot an
    initiative—Digital Productivity — leveraging the NBN
    infrastructure—to enhance service delivery through video
    conferencing. The pilot aims to increase equitable access to
    specialist face-to-face services via high-definition
    videoconferencing, for people in regional Australia who connect to
    the NBN from their residential homes, or connect to the NBN via a
    regional video access point. A budget of $6.2 million has been
    allocated to the Department for the pilot over the four financial
    years to 2014-15. The pilot will be designed collaboratively with
    citizens, service providers and other third party organisations such
    as community, education and healthcare providers.

    Digital Television Switchover — spectrum restacking
    <http://www.budget.gov.au/2012-13/content/bp2/html/bp2_expense-04.htm>

    The Government will provide $143.2 million over five years
    (including capital funding of $0.4 million in 2013‑14 and $0.3
    million in 2014‑15) to ensure free‑to‑air commercial and national
    broadcasters vacate the digital dividend spectrum in a timely
    fashion. This funding will assist broadcasters to replace and retune
    existing transmission equipment and allow the digital dividend
    spectrum to be cleared as soon as possible after the switch‑off of
    analog television services on 31 December 2013.

    This measure includes $26.1 million to research, develop, and
    conduct a communications campaign for the purpose of informing
    communities about the process. The measure also includes $9.7
    million to be provided to the Australian Communication and Media
    Authority and the Department of Broadband, Communications and the
    Digital Economy to conduct research and an evaluation of the
    process, respond to inquiries about the digital switchover, and
    maintain the mySwitch website to provide information about reception
    questions.

    Funding from this measure for the Australian Broadcasting
    Corporation and the Special Broadcasting Service is not for
    publication to protect the national broadcasters' position in any
    future negotiations with service providers.

    The cost of this measure will be partially offset by a provision of
    $53.0 million previously included in the Contingency Reserve for
    assistance to broadcasters for spectrum restacking.

    Further information on the digital dividend can be found in the
    press release of 24 June 2010 issued by the Minister for Broadband,
    Communications and the Digital Economy.

More at: 
http://blog.tomw.net.au/2012/05/nbn-applications-in-20122013-federal.html

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Tom Worthington FACS CP, TomW Communications Pty Ltd. t: 0419496150
PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617, Australiahttp://www.tomw.net.au
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Adjunct Lecturer, Research School of Computer Science,
Australian National Universityhttp://cs.anu.edu.au/courses/COMP7310/