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

[Nick Ross]

Beware any journo/blogger who uses the word "obviously".

On 17 May 2012 09:39, Tom Worthington <tom.worthington at tomw.net.au> wrote:

> 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
>
> --
> Tom Worthington FACS CP, TomW Communications Pty Ltd. t: 0419496150
> PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617, Australiahttp://www.tomw.net.au
> Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards
> Legislation
>
> Adjunct Lecturer, Research School of Computer Science,
> Australian National Universityhttp://cs.anu.edu.au/courses/COMP7310/
>
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