[LINK] "Broadband" service to not-very-remote premises

[David Boxall]

The story of another business and family blighted by our degraded 
telecommunications infrastructure. I wonder where we would be, but for 
privatisation. Would we need an NBN project or would we already have 
infrastructure for the 21st century?

<https://www.facebook.com/groups/BIRRR/permalink/484382588437100/>
> We are on satellite. I've been onto everyone I know to get onto about 
> the recent *further decline of our service. Basically even the 
> ombudsman has said they understand what we are going through but the 
> government body that was overseeing the scheme that we were on is now 
> disbanded and there is actually no-one dealing with us, or accountable 
> for the situations of anyone on our scheme. Until the new satellite is 
> in commission, no one will do anything, and there is certainly no one 
> holding IPStar; who run the hardware for our system, to any standard 
> of service. Our service provider can't do anything and seem 
> exacerbated by the situation themselves. We've tried every trick, even 
> getting on the roof to clean our dish... I have tried to contact our 
> local MP several times but he wont return my calls. I've left very 
> polite messages... Where to next? There has to be something else I can 
> do. I run my business as a freelance writer and voice over artist from 
> just over 40 kms SW of Gympie, we are just shy of the NBN upgrade 
> areas. Apparently there are not enough people living near us to 
> warrant any hardwired service and we are not in line of site for any 
> towers as it's very mountainous around here. It's frustrating to hear 
> our nearest townspeople from Widgee talking about their upgrades while 
> we still sit here hoping the internet will work today, and constantly 
> apologizing to my clients for how long it takes to transfer audio 
> lately. I've become so unreliable directly attributed to the internet, 
> that my monthly income has gone from a few thousand dollars to a few 
> hundred, I'm also pregnant and if i can't get enough work to prove at 
> least 8 hours a week, I will be ineligible for maternity leave when 
> the time comes, this will be a huge, additional loss for our little 
> family at this time, again, directly attributed to our failing 
> service. My partner works for the local meat works, which is also 
> suffering a down turn and the workers are having their hours cut back 
> dramatically. We need my income. Is there anywhere further we can push 
> when we've been told there is not? I can't wait for the next satellite 
> to "maybe" start sometime between April and October... they'll 
> probably just push it back again, and in the meantime, the business 
> I've spent the last decade building is being completely crushed. Any 
> advice? I really hope there is a light at the end of this shitty 
> tunnel I've been trying fight our way out of for the last few months!

-- 
David Boxall                    |  For when the One Great Scorer comes
                                 |  To mark against your name,
http://david.boxall.id.au       |  He writes-not that you won or lost-
                                 |  But how you played the game.
--Grantland Rice