Good news on the surface here folks but whats that going on with the telecommunications giants behind the scenes
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080702-australia-shows-us-how-a-real-broadband-strategy-works.htmlAustralia's government has launched an ambitious effort to build a new fiber-to-the-node national network that will provide at least 12Mbps connections to 98 percent of Australia's population. The two percent who won't have access will be covered under a program called the "Australian Broadband Guarantee" that provides funds to ISPs working in underserved areas. (Note to US regulators: this is what's known as a "national broadband strategy.")
The national government plans to spend up to AUS$4.7 billion on the project, which certainly isn't enough to fund the network. The money is intended more as an incentive; the network will be built and operated by a private company that will invest substantial capital of its own, but the government stake is intended to 1) make sure that a national fiber network gets built, 2) that it reaches almost everyone, and 3) that it functions in the public interest.
A great government effort to serve the public folks, this is what you expect a government to do, lead and build a lasting infrastructure for its citizens to enrich themselves with in terms of increased knowledge transference and commercial opportunities, lets hope big business and greedy telecos don't hijack the good intent of the proposal and the good taxes of the people.
