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The Department manages a range of targeted funding programs to address service gaps and other barriers to the access of mobile phone services.

Here you will find information for community groups on the range of current funding opportunities and progress on funding initiatives that are currently underway, as well as information on programs that have benefited communities and specific industries and sectors in the past.

Funding for communities

The funds available under the Networking the Nation General Fund, Remote & Isolated Islands Fund and Internet Access Fund are scheduled to conclude on 30 June 2003. No further registrations of interest, applications or top-up applications under these funds will be accepted. Registrations will only be accepted under the Building Additional Rural Networks (BARN) initiative and the Local Government Fund.

Before registering a proposal under the BARN or Local Government Funds please contact the appropriate Networking the Nation state manager for information about the availability of BARN and Local Government funds in your state. In some states, these funds have been fully committed.

Networking the Nation (NTN)
The Commonwealth has provided assistance directly to communities to extend mobile phone coverage through the NTN program.

This link currently takes you to the NTN homepage, however it will be updated in the near future to link to mobile phone specific projects funded by NTN.

Indigenous communications
The Telecommunications action plan for remote indigenous communities (File size: 1.4Mb) is not expected to focus strongly on mobile phone services, nevertheless it may provide some funding opportunities for this kind of service for remote Indigenous communities.

• Document ID: 3664 |
• Last modified: 6 February 2008, 12:21pm