The ABG was introduced to provide people in rural and remote areas not covered under the proposed national broadband network with access to metro-comparable services.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy today said the guidelines would ensure the $270.7 million in funding for the program maximised benefits for both providers and consumers.
Incentive payments for companies which take on large infrastructure deployments have been boosted, while there is also now greater flexibility in subsidy levels.
The guidelines also boost consumer protection and provide a higher level of broadband service.
``For internet service providers, these guidelines will provide certainty in the development of whole-of-region broadband solutions in the more remote regional areas that may not be reached by (the) National Broadband Network,'' Senator Conroy said.
``Consumers will benefit through the implementation of standard contract clauses, new requirements for repair and maintenance and a requirement to either shape excess data or charge no more than five cents per megabyte beyond the data cap,'' Senator Conroy said.
The new program guidelines come into force on August 4.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): AAP
Quelle/Source: WA today, 01.07.2008
