Regional Telecommunications Review
The Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee, chaired by Dr Bill Glasson AO, assessed telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia. The Committee's report, known as the Glasson Report, was tabled in Parliament on 15 October 2008. Further information on the Review is available at the 
Committee's website.
The Australian Government has now responded to the Report. On 5 March 2009, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, announced a number of measures to address telecommunications issues for regional Australia.
In line with the Review's recommendations, the Government made an initial investment of $61.1 million to respond to recommendations that can be addressed now. This funding will be used to develop and implement targeted initiatives for regional telecommunications.
This includes a new $46 million Digital Regions Initiative, which will enhance the delivery of health, education and emergency services in regional areas through innovative broadband programs co-funded with all tiers of government.
On 12 May 2009, the Government boosted the Digital Regions Initiative by $14 million as part of the Rural and Regional National Broadband Network Initiative, bringing total funding for this program to $60 million over four years.
The Satellite Phone Subsidy Scheme will continue and be further enhanced through $11.4 million in funding, which includes the replacement of older handsets for those without terrestrial mobile coverage, and making more handsets available to emergency services and health organisations with a demonstrated need.
A refocussed Indigenous Communications Program, which will build on the Backing Indigenous Ability program, will place an increased priority on providing essential telephone services and internet access to remote Indigenous communities through an additional $3.7 million in funding.
These initial steps will become part of a broader approach to regional telecommunications in Australia. Further announcements are expected in the coming months.
Statement of response
Further information about these programs is available in the Australian Government's full Statement of Response to the Glasson Report.
