Preliminary Pages
Chair’s foreword
Over the last thirty years the way we live and work has been
undergoing significant transformation as a result of a variety of technological
developments. We’ve moved from rushing to the bank in our lunchbreak through the
whole introduction of automatic teller machines to online banking. We’ve gone
from lining up at the payphone in holiday destinations to the constant contact
of mobiles and social networks. We rarely expect mail in the letterbox but
constantly check our multiple email addresses. How we work and live has been
transformed and there is no reason to consider that this won’t continue at
exponential rates over the next thirty years.
This report looks at the ways various sectors of government
service delivery, economic and regional development and social and community
activity can be enhanced and expanded as a result of the fibre-to-the premises
infrastructure of the National Broadband Network.
The report is divided into two parts. Part One discusses the
impacts of the NBN on the sectors identified in terms of reference a) to h) of
the Minister’s referral. Part Two discusses term of reference i) and a number
of other overriding issues concerning the NBN’s implementation that inquiry
participants noted will need to be addressed in order to maximise the benefits
outlined in Part One.
A key message the Committee received during the inquiry was
that while the NBN will be enabling infrastructure for a range of social and
economic benefits across all sectors, in order for the potential of the NBN to
be maximised, further ‘demand side’ action is needed. Related to this, inquiry
participants told the Committee that an overarching strategy is needed to
outline the Government’s goals for how the NBN will be used and how those goals
can be delivered through demand side interventions.
The Committee welcomes the recently launched National
Digital Economy Strategy and the cross-government approach that is being
taken to its implementation. The Strategy goes a long way to addressing
concerns raised during the inquiry about the Government’s strategic direction
on digital economy matters. The Committee also welcomes the new government
initiatives that are associated with the Strategy.
Many submissions to the Committee highlighted the
opportunities for dealing with the ‘tyranny of distance’ that we face as a
nation – both between our centres of population and in linking with the
international community. Evidence was presented to the Committee about the ways
in which developments such as on-line business activity, connected communities,
tele-working and tele-commuting, remote video consultations and delivery modes,
only now being imagined and developed, will change the way we are connected to
each other and the world.
The external benefits of this progress also extend to
greater productivity and efficiencies, including cost savings, across the
economy; improved environmental outcomes and greater social inclusion. Many
submissions and reports referenced by those giving evidence outlined some
existing empirical evidence by individual companies and organisations of all of
these forms of flow-on benefits.
Since the Federal Government announced its intention to
proceed with the NBN as a principally fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) network, much
of the public debate has focussed on the cost of construction and the corporate
plan and governance of NBN Co. While these are clearly important matters, it is
also important to evaluate the practical impact that the NBN is likely to have
on the Australian economy and society. In particular, Chapter Nine outlines the
importance that speed, technological future-proofing, complementary
technologies, symmetry, ubiquity and reliability play in the proposed
infrastructure’s capacity to deliver the transformations outlined in the
earlier chapters.
This report seeks to contribute significantly to the
national conversation by broadening the debate and the Committee greatly valued
the many considered submissions made by many individuals, organisations and
communities across the nation.
Ms Sharon Bird MP
Chair
Terms of reference
The Committee will examine the capacity of the National
Broadband Network to contribute to:
a) the
delivery of government services and programs;
b) achieving
health outcomes;
c) improving
the educational resources and training available for teachers and students;
d) the
management of Australia's built and natural resources and environmental
sustainability;
e) impacting
regional economic growth and employment opportunities;
f) impacting
business efficiencies and revenues, particularly for small and medium business,
and Australia's export market;
g) interaction
with research and development and related innovation investments;
h) facilitating
community and social benefits; and
i) the
optimal capacity and technological requirements of a network to deliver these
outcomes.
Background and recommendations
Since the Federal Government announced its intention to
proceed with the NBN as a principally fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) network, much
of the public debate has focussed on the cost of construction and the corporate
plan and governance of NBN Co. While these are clearly important matters, it is
also important to evaluate the practical impact that the NBN is likely to have
on the Australian economy and society.
In this context, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for
Infrastructure and Transport, asked the Committee to inquire into the ‘role and
potential of the NBN’ with respect to its capacity to contribute to government
services, health, education, resource management, environmental sustainability,
regional economic growth, business efficiencies, research and development, and
community and social benefits. The Committee was also asked to consider the
‘optimal capacity and technological requirements of a network to deliver these
outcomes’.
This report is divided into two parts. Part One, consisting
of Chapters 2 to 8, discusses the impacts of the NBN on the sectors identified
in terms of reference a) to h). These chapters highlight a large number of
applications that are enabled by the availability of ubiquitous fast broadband
and the benefits that could result. Part Two, consisting of Chapters 9 to 11, focuses
on the implementation of the NBN and discusses term of reference i) and a
number of other overriding issues that inquiry participants noted will need to
be addressed in order to maximise the benefits outlined in Part One. Part Two
contains a number of recommendations for the Government, as listed below:
Recommendation 1
That the Government continue to coordinate the implementation
of the National Digital Economy Strategy across government, ensuring
appropriate regulatory frameworks are in place and promoting a consistent
trans-sector approach to supporting its goals.
Recommendation 2
That the Government require its departments to report against
the goals identified in the National Digital Economy Strategy in their
annual reports.
Recommendation 3
That the Government continues to implement broadband-enabled
technologies into its own services and operations as a means of improving
efficiency, as well as to encourage NBN uptake and utilisation.
Recommendation 4
That the Government continue to support strategically targeted
pilot projects in cooperation with relevant industries and communities that
model innovative applications of the NBN.
Recommendation 5
That the Government consider allocating resources to each
Regional Development Australia committee to allow these bodies to provide
enhanced local digital economy leadership. This leadership role should include
identifying regional goals and implementing related strategies and programs.
Recommendation 6
That the Federal Government develop a comprehensive engagement
strategy incorporating a range of approaches to promote the uptake of broadband
and digital technologies during the NBN rollout.
Recommendation 7
That, recognising the important roles of public libraries and
community centres, the Federal Government works in an appropriate capacity to
implement a network of public access points connected to high speed NBN
services in as many communities as possible.
Recommendation 8
That the Federal Government, with other organisations as
appropriate, develop targeted programs for those currently disadvantaged by the
digital divide to improve awareness of publicly available high-speed internet
facilities, to improve access, and to promote the development of relevant
skills.
Recommendation 9
That the Government provide continued support for
organisations involved in the development of high speed broadband applications.
Recommendation 10
That the Government maintains regulatory support to encourage
increased levels of research and innovation in the private sector and
recognises the NBN’s importance to the realisation of its innovation agenda.
Recommendation 11
That the Government develop a strategy for the digitisation of
Australia’s culturally and historically significant content.
Recommendation 12
That the Government facilitate discussions between
representatives of key content industries and internet service providers to
work towards an agreed framework for minimising online copyright theft.
Recommendation 13
That the Government provide further support for digital
literacy programs, based on the Broadband for Seniors kiosk model, making use
of existing resources such as libraries and not-for-profit groups where
possible.
Recommendation 14
That the Government continue to support programs that equip
small and medium enterprises with the knowledge and support they need to
compete in the digital economy.
Recommendation 15
That the Government develop strategies for the collection and
provision of data on workforce needs in the ICT sector into the future.
Recommendation 16
That the Government develop a long term strategy to up-skill
and/or retrain the existing workforce and develop new training programs to
address emerging skills gaps.