From: Helen Scott [hscott@cota.org.au] Sent: Wednesday, 14 August 2002 1:15 PM To: 'ecita.sen@aph.gov.au' Subject: Senate Inquiry into Australian Telecommunications Network The Secretary Senate ECITA References Committee Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 Please find attached Council on the Ageing (Australia)'s submission to the Broadband Advisory Group sent to the National Office for the Information Economy on 9 August 2002. The submission is in the public domain and on our website. Council on the Ageing takes the opportunity offered by the Inquiry into the Australian Telecommunications Network to ask that the Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee consider the points and recommendations made by our submission in relation to broadband access from the perspective of both older Australians and of non-profit organisations in the community sector. The Council on the Ageing (COTA) is the peak consumer organisation dedicated to protecting and promoting the well-being of older people. Further details of functions and membership are in the submission. COTA argues that a priority in getting broadband access right should be in addressing options for large sectors of the population still without any form of online access i.e. addressing the digital divide, by regulating to encourage access and increase service diversity. Older people are one group on the wrong side of the divide. We argue that a new digital divide is forming between narrow (standard dial-up) and broadband internet access. Broadband access issues should be part of a digital divide policy debate which goes beyond access barriers and disavantage to focus on digital dividends, and recognises the importance of developing social capital through building online communities. Ensuring consumer access to greater bandwidth, which means moving beyond the dominant business-to-business models, such as assymmetrical data flow (ADSL), is essential to grow diversified markets and provide better opportunities for rich content and interactive service delivery. Cost and affordability remain concerns for all online users, including dial-up customers, but are major barriers to broadband services for households and community organisations. An illustrative case study is provided by a COTA member, an older woman. Dissatisfaction with the quality and reliability of DSL services is highlighed. Recommendations are made for consumer and community sector participation on the Broadband Advisory Group, for a communications strategy, and for Universal Service Obligation requirements for digital data access to be progressively upgraded to include higher data rates and affordability criteria. Please contact the sender (full details below) for any further details or clarification. <> Helen Scott, Information Manager hscott@cota.org.au Council on the Ageing (Australia) Level 2, 3 Bowen Crescent Melbourne 3004 Tel 61 (3) 9820 2655 Fax 61 (3) 9820 9886 http://www.cota.org.au