Regional Telecommunications Review

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The Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee reviews telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia. A review is conducted every three years.

2012 review

The 2011–12 committee was appointed in July 2011 by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy. The committee was chaired by Ms Rosemary Sinclair, and the other members were Mr Warren McLachlan, Mr Robin Eckermann, Ms Heron Loban, Mr Alun Davies and the Hon. Kim Chance.

The committee reviewed telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia, paying particular regard to initiatives that will enable regional communities to participate in, and realise the opportunities of, the digital economy. The committee's report, 'Regional Communications: Empowering digital communities', was tabled in parliament on 23 May 2012. The report and a report summary are available on the committee's website.

The Australian government responded to the recommendations of the Sinclair Review on 23 August 2012. In line with the recommendations, the government has:

  • Noted that there is a genuine desire across regional Australia for the faster, more affordable and more reliable broadband services that the NBN will provide.
  • Reaffirmed its commitment to uniform national wholesale pricing for NBN services
  • Provided funding for Regional Development Australia committees to develop collaborative digital economy plans for their regions and identify digital economy champions
  • Expanded the eligibility for the Interim Satellite Service to include access for remote schools and health facilities
  • Continued untimed local calls in the Extended Zones in 2012‒13.
  • Committed to working with mobile carriers and NBN Co to take advantage of NBN fixed wireless towers to improve mobile coverage in regional areas.

The full Statement of Response is below.

2008 Glasson 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.

The Australian Government responded to the recommendations of the Glasson Review on 5 March 2009.  In line with the recommendations the government announced:

  • The Digital Regions Initiative to fund innovative broadband applications to improve education, health and emergency services in regional areas through innovative broadband programs co-funded with all tiers of government.
  • The continuation and enhancement of the Satellite Phone Subsidy Scheme for Australians living and working in areas without terrestrial mobile coverage, including the replacement of older handsets for those without coverage and making more handsets available to emergency services and health organisations with a demonstrated need.
  • A refocused Indigenous Communications Program to improve basic telecommunications services, basic public internet access and training to remote Indigenous communities.

Statement of response

Further information about these programs is available in the Australian Government's full Statement of Response to the Glasson Report.

2002 Estens Review

In August 2002, the Australian Government announced a review of telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote Australia.

That review was conducted by the Regional Telecommunications Inquiry committee, chaired by Mr Dick Estens. The committee was asked to report on the adequacy of telecommunications services in these areas and put forward recommendations to the government.

 
 
 

Contacts

Regional Telecommunications Review secretariat
Tel: 1800 064 851
secretariat@rtirc.gov.au

 
Document ID: 108659 | Last modified: 23 August 2012, 11:08am