Australian Broadband Guarantee subsidy slashed

The Australian Federal Government has slashed fundings for the Australian Broadband Guarantee subsidy from $271 million in the 2008/09 budget over four years, to $230 million over the same period in this years 2009/10 budget. 

Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy appear to have reduced spendings on initiatives such as the ABG in favor to support new programs such as Cyber Safety, the child protection initiative. The ABG funding reduction corresponds with the Governments $43 billion national broadband network plans to extend high speed broadband to regional Australia.

The Australian Broadband Guarantee was originally introduced as a $2500 incentive for National and Regional Internet Service Providers to offer Satellite, Wireless and ADSL services, with Internet access speeds comparable to metropolitan areas, to those in rural, regional and remote areas of Australia.

It seems that Broadband for the Bush will just have to wait, yet again, for the next ‘Government Broadband Project’ that will address backhaul and offer those Aussies who live outside major metro areas the high speed broadband services that they deserve.