Skid_MacMarx Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 Rudd pledges $4.7b broadband blitzMarch 21, 2007 - 12:35PM Labor would build a $4.7 billion broadband network up to 40 times faster than current speeds in a joint venture with business, Opposition leader Kevin Rudd announced this morning. Mr Rudd criticised Australia's existing broadband system, saying it was lagging against other developed countries and would damage education and business competitiveness in the future. Some $2 billion of the investment needed would be drawn from an existing communications fund, while the remainder would be taken from the 17 per cent share of Telstra placed in the Future Fund. The boost to Australia's communications infrastructure would help drive productivity growth "beyond the mining boom," Mr Rudd said http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/rudd...4153125192.html replacing the capital expenditure which Howard took out to sell Telstra?
drsmith Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 I thought the purpose of the future fund was to finance the unfunded component of the federal public service super schemes.
Thudd1503560234 Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 And in what I'm claiming as the biggest irony of the day, I received a flyer in the mail this morning from Tel$tra entitled "Australia is being left behind the world in high-speed broadband." "Government and regulators should give Telstra a fair go to invest in high-speed broadband, rather than suibsidising foreign companies that send their profits and valuable jobs offshore."
Aloysius Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 Good news is the opposition have now adopted the Government policy to sell all of Telstra to get the funds for Broadband
aztec Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 Good news is the opposition have now adopted the Government policy to sell all of Telstra to get the funds for Broadband So who is going to own and run it?
Aloysius Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 So who is going to own and run it? Telstra's new owners I guess
-Bishop- Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 And in what I'm claiming as the biggest irony of the day, I received a flyer in the mail this morning from Tel$tra entitled "Australia is being left behind the world in high-speed broadband." "Government and regulators should give Telstra a fair go to invest in high-speed broadband, rather than suibsidising foreign companies that send their profits and valuable jobs offshore." I got that, and the follow up email today. Telstra have some of the worst value internet in Australia, and they now want Australians to support their push to bring in even more over priced high speed services, and for us to tell the government it's ok for them charge whatever they want, for use of structure that used to be all owned by the government. I hate Telstra...
aztec Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 Telstra's new owners I guess Noooooooooooooooooooooo
DrP Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 A bit of insight into how Telstra would like to charge people for internet access. Some poor sods live in new 'smart' estates that are set up with Telstra FTTH. There is no copper. There is no possibility of 3rd party data services unless they are wireless. So, you think, its a FTTH.. that must be nice and fast. Try 1.5Mbit/sec, 20Gb for $129. Yeah, real nice - if you have no brain!
Skid_MacMarx Posted March 21, 2007 Author Posted March 21, 2007 What is Howard doing to improve the state of broadband in this country? He has sold the public infrastructure for a song... so are his institutional investment mates the only ones to benefit from this sale? It appears to me, regardless if you're with Telstra or not, you are paying top dollar for an inferior service. There is no doubt in my mind that he has lowered the quality of telecommunications in this country. He is out of touch..
-Bishop- Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 Regardless of who your with, your paying something to Telstra, and they are constantly trying to collect top dollar for what is a really outdated network. I think they recently called for quotes in Brisbane to lay an independent fibre optic system to homes, I'm not sure of the complete details, but I would hope any such system would stay in the hands of the government, but I somehow doubt it.
stahc Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 Regardless of who your with, your paying something to Telstra, and they are constantly trying to collect top dollar for what is a really outdated network.I think they recently called for quotes in Brisbane to lay an independent fibre optic system to homes, I'm not sure of the complete details, but I would hope any such system would stay in the hands of the government, but I somehow doubt it. yes but at least i pretend nothings going towards telstra................helps me sleep...........well that and a couple of beers
-Bishop- Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 Actually I was doing some more reading about Rudds plan and most recent news about it, I was on the fence before but I'm liking it now, even more when I found out the Liberals apparently hate the plan... In a nut shell Rudd wants to sell off the last pieces of Telstra (at first that made my squirm), but directly turn that money around, to start up a new Australia wide high speed infrastructure, once again owned by the government. I hope I got that basically right, but it sounds like Labor wants to recreate a government owned telecommunications network again? Someone elsewhere was saying that the Liberals are spitting chips over it, saying it's unfair to their previous Telstra commitments, and to the rest if the telco industry...
Aloysius Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 Actually I was doing some more reading about Rudds plan and most recent news about it, I was on the fence before but I'm liking it now, even more when I found out the Liberals apparently hate the plan...In a nut shell Rudd wants to sell off the last pieces of Telstra (at first that made my squirm), but directly turn that money around, to start up a new Australia wide high speed infrastructure, once again owned by the government. I hope I got that basically right, but it sounds like Labor wants to recreate a government owned telecommunications network again? Someone elsewhere was saying that the Liberals are spitting chips over it, saying it's unfair to their previous Telstra commitments, and to the rest if the telco industry... What a joke- If the Government sell Telstra it's BAD If the unelected (yet) opposition want to sell it it's GOOD The only difference is who does it - get real
mello yello Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 What a joke- If the Government sell Telstra it's BADIf the unelected (yet) opposition want to sell it it's GOOD The only difference is who does it - get real No if the Government sell Telstra they buy more groundtime for Aussie troops in Iraq and a submarine or two we would never have needed had we not made so many new enemies under this current regime.....and nothing towards regional Australia. If Labor sell it they will reinvest the money into a severely lacking regional comuncations infrastructure (abanadoned by the said same Liberals) Looks like a simple case of clean up your own backyard Can you spot the difference
Skid_MacMarx Posted March 21, 2007 Author Posted March 21, 2007 Rudd raids Telstra fund for supernetLisa Murray, Matt O'Sullivan and Phillip Coorey March 22, 2007 KEVIN RUDD has put internet broadband firmly on the agenda in an election year, pledging to build a new high-speed network as part of an $8 billion plan that has forced Labor to dump its decade-long policy support of public ownership of Telstra. The Opposition Leader said Labor would invest as much as $4.7 billion over five years to build the network. A private-sector partner such as Telstra or Optus could make a similar contribution, he said. Labor insiders said the total cost of the network could be $8 billion. Mr Rudd compared the new network with railway lines, describing it as "nation-building in the 21st century". He said it would give Australians access to speeds more than 40 times faster than those available today. The Opposition has seized the upper hand in the growing debate about broadband investment in Australia, amid strong criticism of the Government's inertia from the likes of James Packer and Rupert Murdoch. The Government, however, berated Labor over its decision to fund its new investment by drawing on the $2 billion Communications Fund, set up to improve telecommunications services in the bush, and selling up to $2.7 billion of Telstra shares it put into the Future Fund late last year. The Prime Minister, John Howard, said the Future Fund was designed to meet an expense that would soar as the population aged and the workforce shrank. What Labor was proposing amounted to a "smash-and-grab raid", he said. "Labor have fallen at the first hurdle of economic responsibility. They have reverted to type," he said. The Future Fund, which was seeded with the unsold shares as well as the proceeds from the T3 sale, is supposed to be quarantined until 2020 so it can grow to meet what will become a $140 billion liability in providing superannuation for Commonwealth public servants. The Treasurer, Peter Costello, said Labor's broadband plan was "economic vandalism" and "the most irresponsible economic announcement of the last 11 years". Labor's finance spokesman, Lindsay Tanner, said Labor had fought long and hard for public ownership of Telstra. "Today we are acknowledging that we have lost that fight," he said. Mr Rudd focused on the benefits for small businesses yesterday, saying a fibre-to-the-node broadband network covering 98 per cent of Australia would slash their phone bills and improve services such as videoconferencing and interactive TV. But it is the big end of town that has been fighting for more broadband investment over the past year. Just last week the media mogul James Packer said it should be "a top-order priority for the nation". His comments followed on the heels of Rupert Murdoch's description of broadband infrastructure as "a disgrace", while Fairfax Media's chief executive, David Kirk, has said it should be known as "fraudband". Mr Packer and Mr Murdoch believe the Government should co-invest with Telstra in a new network, but Labor has opted not to single out a favoured partner. Telecommunications groups, including Telstra and Optus, gave their qualified support yesterday for Labor's plans. Telstra's general manager of regulatory affairs, Tony Warren, said Labor had proposed a process that could "break the logjam". Telstra put on hold in August plans for a $4 billion high-speed fibre network in the five major capital cities. Market watchers say Labor's plans will fit better with a proposal from a group of Telstra rivals, led by Optus, to build a $3 billion-plus network, which is likely to be funded as an infrastructure asset. But other analysts believe Telstra remains in the box seat, as whoever builds a network will have to deal with the incumbent telecom because it will still need to use the copper wires that run from nodes to homes. THE $8b PLAN * Invest up to $4.7 billion over five years to build a national high-speed broadband network in partnership with the private sector. * Connect 98 per cent of Australians at more than 40 times present speeds. * Fund it from the $2 billion Communications Fund and sell down the Future Fund's 17 per cent stake in Telstra. * End a decade-long Labor policy of public ownership of Telstra. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rudd-r...ge#contentSwap1
Skid_MacMarx Posted March 21, 2007 Author Posted March 21, 2007 What a joke- If the Government sell Telstra it's BADIf the unelected (yet) opposition want to sell it it's GOOD The only difference is who does it - get real what sell the remaining 17% to reinvest in improvong public telco infrastructure? get a grip Aloysius, that money should be going into improving telco infrastructure.. not feathering your mates' pockets. your liberal mates have stripped the cupboard bare and then sold the cupboard I know who the economic vandals are...and its not Rudd At least Rudd is addressing community and business concerns Howard and Costello are "out if touch" and arrogant if they get their heads out of the sand and properly address things like improving telco infrastructure, housing affordability, climate change, etc, people may start treating them with some respect.
DrP Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 Realisticly, now that the Howard government has sold off the majority of a core Australian asset - Telstra, Labor has no choice but to continue with the sale. Keeping Telstra half government owned at this point doesn't make a lot of sense. Cut it loose, continue to impose heavy regulation in the telecoms sector until real competition is alive and thriving (ie, give it a chance to get up and running in the face of a 30 billion dollar behemoth that could roll over and squish it flat). This is of course all part of the Howard plan. Howard actually used this as his own justification for the continued sale of Telstra during the last election (or was it the one before?). Of course, he wormed and squirmed when the ABC interviewer pointed out that it was Howard's own policies that had put Telstra in the half-pregnant state it was in and therefore Howard must admit responsibility for the issues that were predicted. These are the issues that we are now contending with - a rabid Telstra that is doing an all out money gouge on the Australian public in general. Howard never did accept responsiblity - something he seems to have great difficulty with. Thanks John. Thanks a lot.
Aloysius Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 No if the Government sell Telstra they buy more groundtime for Aussie troops in Iraq and a submarine or two we would never have needed had we not made so many new enemies under this current regime.....and nothing towards regional Australia.If Labor sell it they will reinvest the money into a severely lacking regional comuncations infrastructure (abanadoned by the said same Liberals) Looks like a simple case of clean up your own backyard Can you spot the difference Great to see that you are not daunted making such a huge call
Aloysius Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 what sell the remaining 17% to reinvest in improvong public telco infrastructure? get a grip Aloysius, that money should be going into improving telco infrastructure.. not feathering your mates' pockets. your liberal mates have stripped the cupboard bare and then sold the cupboard I know who the economic vandals are...and its not Rudd At least Rudd is addressing community and business concerns Howard and Costello are "out if touch" and arrogant if they get their heads out of the sand and properly address things like improving telco infrastructure, housing affordability, climate change, etc, people may start treating them with some respect. Great - if the government changes policy it's a "Backflip" If the opposition changes it's polkcy it's a "sensible decision made in changed circumstances" Gimme a break guys - at least use the same criteria when making judgements
Chui2 Posted March 21, 2007 Posted March 21, 2007 I notice in the SMH graphic that only Mexico has slower broadband speed than ourselves. Is that why Howard brought in Sol the Mex - so that we would end up like Mexico?
Mining Man Posted March 22, 2007 Posted March 22, 2007 ... so that we would end up like Mexico? Well one thing's for sure, I'd find Salma Hayek walking up the beach in a bikini, asking "where the bloody hell are you?" far more enticing than Lara bloody Bingle... Mmmm, Salma.
captaineos Posted March 22, 2007 Posted March 22, 2007 Have you seen episode 7 of ugly betty yet? Thats the episode where she totally strips down in the elevator after having coffee spilled on her. http://img106.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ug1mf8.png ...And to get back on topic - we needed decent broadband YESTERDAY for god sakes. I still cant get over capped plans for a small fortune.
Guest EZYHD Posted March 22, 2007 Posted March 22, 2007 It is a great idea to give us and those without it real ADSL, the thing that worries me, it looks like Labor is going on a big spending spree again just like they have done in the past, and we most know what happens then, mind you I'm no supporter of little Johnny either.
DrP Posted March 22, 2007 Posted March 22, 2007 the thing that worries me, it looks like Labor is going on a big spending spree again just like they have done in the past I hope the $40 billion or so worth of election spending sprees (to date, I'm sure there is more to come) from the Howard Liberal government has you equally worried.
Recommended Posts