Regional Connectivity Program

The Government is seeking feedback on the design of the new Regional Connectivity Program.

Why we want your input

We want to make sure the Regional Connectivity Program best meets community needs.

How you can voice your opinion

You can voice your opinion by providing a submission to this public consultation process. Submissions are due by 9 September 2019, 5pm.

What will be the outcome of this consultation?

Your submission will help inform the design of the Regional Connectivity Program

The Issue

We are seeking input on the design of the new Regional Connectivity Program. This program is part of the Government 's $220 million Stronger Regional Digital Connectivity Package, announced in the Government 's response to the 2018 Regional Telecommunications Review.

The Regional Connectivity Program will take a place-based approach, targeting investment in local priorities to maximise economic opportunities and region-wide benefits for regional, rural and remote Australians.

The program includes a competitive grants process in which applicants can propose different technologies to improve telecommunications services in the regions.

The intended outcomes of the program are to:

provide place-based solutions to digital connectivity issues in the regions through a range of mobile and/or broadband services
complement the National Broadband Network, the Mobile Black Spot Program and the telecommunications industry 's commercial investment plans

We are seeking feedback on the discussion paper to inform the design of the program and development of program guidelines.

Telecommunications industry, all levels of government and other interested stakeholders and encouraged to make a submission to help inform the Government 's consideration of possible program implementation methods.

Relevant Documentation

Regional Connectivity Program—discussion paper

Published 12th Aug 2019

Download PDF (398.57 KB) Download DOC (110.61 KB)

This discussion paper focuses on the design of the Regional Connectivity Program. We are seeking submissions from the telecommunications industry, all levels of government and other interested stakeholders.

Outcome

The consultation period ended on 9 September 2019. Publically available submissions from the consultation are now available on this page, there were also a number of submissions that respondents requested not be made public. The submissions, both public and confidential, informed the draft Regional Connectivity Program guidelines which are open for consultation until 12 March 2020 5:00pm.