More funding for Regional Broadband infrastructure

126/04
10 August 2004

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, today called for expressions of interest for the second round of funding for the Coordinated Communications Infrastructure Fund (CCIF).

"This fund supports investment in broadband infrastructure to improve health, education and government services in regional areas," Senator Coonan said.

On 20 April 2004, the Government announced seven projects in regional and remote areas that would receive $13.9 million from the CCIF.

"Projects such as the Charles Darwin University's Fibre Optic backbone project in Alice Springs were funded under the first round of the CCIF," Senator Coonan said.

"The Alice Springs project is well underway and will provide a high-speed broadband link between the University campus and a range of research and cultural institutions at the Desert Knowledge Precinct 10 km to the south."

Expressions of interest are now invited for the $8.1 million second funding round under the CCIF.

The CCIF is open to applications from partnerships such as health or education service providers; state, territory and local governments; community groups; telecommunications carriers; service providers; and other companies.

"Collaborative projects like these can dramatically improve access to technology and online health and education services for people living in regional areas," Senator Coonan said.

"The CCIF is one element of the National Broadband Strategy and forms part of the Government's response to the Regional Telecommunications Inquiry (RTI)."

Following the RTI, the Australian Government committed $142.8 million to the action plan of the National Broadband Strategy.

The CCIF will also build on the Government's $50 million National Communications Fund, which supports significant communications projects in the education and health sectors in regional Australia.

Projects funded under the CCIF will require at least matching contributions from sources outside of the Australian Government.

CCIF documentation is available from the 'view tenders, current' section of the Austender website at http://www.tenders.gov.au. The closing date for expressions of interest is Tuesday 21 September 2004.

Media Contact: Jane McMillan 0438 690 305
www.minister.dcita.gov.au