Senate Select Committee on the National Broadband Network
Information about the Inquiry
On 25 June 2008, the Senate established the Select Committee on the National Broadband Network to inquire into and report on the Government's proposal to partner with the private sector to upgrade parts of the existing network to fibre to provide minimum broadband speeds of 12 megabits per second to 98 per cent of Australian homes and businesses on an open access basis.
On 7 April 2009, the Rudd Government announced that it had terminated the previous Request for Proposals process, replacing it with an initiative that would see 90 per cent of Australian homes, workplaces and schools with fibre-to-the-premise, connecting all other premises in Australia with next generation wireless and satellite technologies, ensuring every Australian house, school and workplace can access fast affordable broadband.
Consequently, on 14 May 2009, the Senate revised the terms of appointment of this Committee, refecting the change in the Government's policy direction and allowing the Committee to effectively continue and complete its inquiry into the National Broadband Network. The revised Terms of Reference can be found at: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/broadband_ctte/tor.htm.
The Committee has made a new call for submissions that directly relate to the revised terms of appointment, with a submission closing date of COB 3 July 2009.
However, this committee has agreed to accept late submissions. Following consideration of submissions, the Committee will hold public hearings. The Committee will consider all submissions and may invite individuals and organisations to give evidence at the public hearings.
Submissions become Committee documents and are made public only after a decision by the Committee. Persons making submissions must not release them without the approval of the Committee. Submissions are covered by parliamentary privilege but the unauthorised release of them is not.
The Committee has now provided two interim reports, tabled on 2 December 2008 and 12 May 2009; the final report is due to be tabled in the Senate on 23 November 2009. For further information about the inquiry visit http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/broadband_ctte/index.htm or phone (02) 6277 3635.
Inquiries from hearing and speech impaired people should be directed to the Parliament House TTY number (02) 6277 7799. Adobe also provides tools for the blind and visually impaired to access PDF documents. These tools are available at: http://access.adobe.com/. If you require any special arrangements in order to enable you to participate in a committee inquiry, please contact the committee secretary.
For further information, contact:
Committee Secretary
Senate Select Committee on the National Broadband Network
Department of the Senate
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia
Website feedback: web.senate@aph.gov.au
Last reviewed 24 August 2009 by the Senate Web Administrator
Commonwealth of Australia
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