The Australian Telecommunications Users Group (ATUG) has outlined the policies they would like to see a commitment to in the upcoming Federal election.
1. A commitment to establishing effective competitive communications markets
2. Nationwide access to NBN grade broadband services, the Labor party should roll out the NBN, if the Liberal party is going to can the NBN then they need to come up with a plan for nationwide access to NBN grade services.
3. To both parties, we want a fast fix for underserved areas and by that we mean early implementation of a wireless solution for regional areas. Beyond rolling things out, we’re after targeted support for takeup, because from our point of view it’s very important that we get as quickly as possible to 90 per cent of the community having access to fast broadband because it’s not until you get to that tipping point of people on the platform that you really can get to innovative service delivery and new applications, you need that takeup before you can get to innovation.
4. More focus on end users in this move to a digital economy, and support from both parties for the development of a digital economy stakeholders group. The group’s objective would be ensure issues are addressed by Government and Industry so Australian business and government organisations can accelerate the development of Australia's Digital Economy and achieve real benefit from nationwide high speed broadband connectivity.