The office of Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has confirmed the controversial $25 million National Broadband Network implementation study will be released before the Federal Budget in May.

Conroy reportedly told journalists about the release earlier today, and his spokesperson confirmed the timing of the release this afternoon. Further information about how the decision was made to release the document was not available.

According to its original brief, the implementation study will determine the operating arrangements for the NBN Company, as well as detailing network design and financial details — for example, attracting private sector investment. It was put together by consulting firms KPMG and McKinsey.

However, since NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley came on board last year, the company has already taken action on a number of fronts which the tender documents mentioned would be covered by the implementation study — such as key decisions on network design. The NBN Co has also kickstarted various procurement processes associated with the NBN buildout.

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam had threatened to pull the party’s support for the Federal Government’s controversial telecommunications reform legislation due to Stephen Conroy’s decision not to yet release the National Broadband Implementation study during the last Senate sitting.

Ludlam successfully passed a Senate order requiring Conroy to hand over the study. At the time, the senator said he had grown tired of waiting and had warned the Government was “basically burning the goodwill of the crossbenches”.

At the time, Conroy had defended the decision not to put the study into the public domain yet, saying it was a Cabinet decision.

Image credit: Office of Stephen Conroy

Related posts:

1. Conroy releases NBN Implementation Study
2. Conroy hasn’t received NBN implementation study
3. Conroy has implementation study: Ludlam
4. NBN study release a major Greens victory
5. Conroy to release NBN Co plan Monday

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3. NBN Observer
   Posted 26/03/2010 at 12:15 am | Permalink | Reply

   I am tired of the NBN and the NBN Co. What I see now is potentially another government failing to deliver a broadband strategy which address the issues. To date conroy has wasted at least $100M of tax payers money and little to show for it. The NBNCo looks like a boys club and in time maybe start to resemble Telstra’s culture or Alcatel. This is really disappointing.