NBN: Is Conroy telling ‘porkies’ on Tassie schools?

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The Federal Opposition has accused Communications Minister Stephen Conroy of telling “porkies” over the extent to which NBN-connected schools in Tasmania are actually using their new broadband service, more than 12 months after the infrastructure was rolled out in select locations in the state.

In mid-June, the Tasmanian State Government was forced by its own Opposition to concede that no public school in the early stage release towns of Scottsdale, Midway Point and Smithton had actually been connected to the next-generation fibre Internet the project will provide, despite the fact that the physical infrastructure was in place to allow connections to go ahead.

The delay appears to be due to the fact that Internet service to schools is provided through the state whole of government Networking Tasmania contract, which is held by Telstra and is currently being tested in the market. Like other providers, Telstra is currently trialling NBN services in Tasmania.

However, in a statement, the Opposition pointed out that during the launch of the NBN in Kiama in New South Wales last week, Conroy had told assembled media that schools in Tasmania were now using the NBN and “reporting their enthusiasm”.

“The fact is, Senator Conroy’s comments couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Liberal Senator Eric Abetz. “Of the limited number of schools in Tasmania that actually have access to the NBN, only a couple of private schools are willing and able to pay for the expensive NBN connection,” Abetz added. “As far as Government schools are concerned only one, Smithton High, has a limited trial, which is delivering a low speed connection to just a single classroom.”

Conroy has previously answered criticism on the issue by re-affirming the Federal Government’s commitment to bringing the NBN to Austrailan schools, and directing enquiries on the matter to the details of the Networking Tasmania contract.

In June, Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.

The Federal Government, in addition the Tasmanian State Government, have repetitively touted the ability to bring high-speed broadband to schools as a benefit of the NBN, holding demonstrations of the fibre-optic technology in schools in both Tasmania and other early stage release sites such as Armidale over the past year.

For example, in mid-May, groups of school children in Armidale and Tasmania were filmed in a joint rendition of ‘Waltzing Matilda’ sung over a videoconference link over what appeared to be a NBN link between the two states. School students using next-generation broadband services have also been regularly featured in NBN Co advertisements highlighting the benefits of the NBN to the national education system.

Last week, Abetz accused Conroy of misleading the public.

“Thanks to State Labor’s bungling, none of the other Government Schools in the NBN rollout areas are even able to connect to the service due to State Government contractual obligations with other providers,” the Liberal Senator said.

“This is typical of Labor’s bungling and its over-enthusiastic spin, tell the story sprinkled with half truths, throw in a few porkie-pies and hope the Australian people buy it. Despite Senator Conroy’s comments today, there’s not much “enthusiasm” in Tasmania at all.”

Image credit: Laihiuyeung Ryanne, Creative Commons

136 COMMENTS

  1. Tell me that if the Opposition were in power, and implementing their broadband plan, that cronies like Abetz wouldn’t be spinning their program in its best light?

    Puhhhhleeze…for better or worse, it’s called politics…neither what the Opposition says, or the Government says is going to be 100% right – the truth always lies somewhere in the middle.

    • I agree, but in this case the Coalition has a legitimate point, which is why I’m reporting it — Conroy and co have been spruiking those schools constantly. It’s hypocritical for them not to be connected yet, and the fibre is laying dormant. Contracts be damned — not connecting fibre when you have it installed is a joke.

      • Sure – contracts are contracts though. You break contracts, and sales people getting rolling commissions start getting REALLY shitty.

        I’m not disagreeing that it’s disappointing – but I understand the situation, having worked in state government in the past. The technology panels are mostly prone to producing watertight contracts.

          • Not convinced about that. A lot of contracts are about the rolling backend commissions to the sales people who put them together, as well as associated side contracts.

            Shouldn’t be hard – absolutely – but these contracts are some of the most complicated you’ll ever see.

          • I doubt it, wait until you read the Telstra deal contract, most shareholders eyes will glaze over see the carrot $$ figure and will vote Yes anyway.

  2. – *Schools* in Tas are using the NBN.
    – The NetTas contract is for *government schools*.

    These two statements are not contradictory – I think there was a small christian primary school or something in Smithton that was connected?

  3. “By 1990, no Australian child will be living in poverty.”

    Yes, I believe everything that comes from the mouths of Labor pollies…..

    • The biggest problem the environment / climate has is from farting.

      Neither of you two are old enough or experienced enough to understand the true nature of Labor, that is clear, or to “know” anything about climate besides what is politically correct.

      Still waiting elsewhere for a decent reply from ANYONE as to exactly why THEY THEMSELVES need the NBN… or how over two million disadvantaged Australians will benefit from it.

          • Hate to say it – but the “recession we had to have” has long been proven as absolutely correct (and one reason why our economy became so robust for the next decade, at least).

          • Yes, necessary due to the excesses of the Hawke/Keating governments…. totally agree!

          • Pyramid, Tricontinental, State Bank of NSW, Laurie Connell, Bondy, Skase…. bankers making silly loans for commercial real estate speculation and corporate takeovers at inflated values…. all that was “necessary” ?

      • “Still waiting elsewhere for a decent reply from ANYONE as to exactly why THEY THEMSELVES need the NBN”

        My business (constant connection to the Internet, constantly uploading data, including video files) is such that I could easily use 100Mbps downlink speeds, and I would definitely use 40MBps upstream speeds as well. Seriously … when you’re on the net 24×7 and constantly creating content, the better speeds, contention ratios, latency etc you can get, the better you can work.

        And I’m only a SME. When you go up the chain to larger businesses, they’ll lap it up.

        When you consider that most houses are heavy content creators these days (think about all the photos uploaded to Facebook and the videos going onto YouTube), it’s not hard to imagine how many people will be using the NBN just purely for content creation in 2020.

          • The economy could do with more SMEs having better internet access. These companies might one day be employing your kids or grandchildren.

            To call them tight for not wanting or being able to afford decent internet access is stupidity at it’s highest. The government is making it cheaper to conduct business in the country which is only ever a good thing.

          • Well it was mainly tongue-in-cheek hence the :), but never mind, I am happy you got that rant off your chest.

        • @Renai – good, at least we are now getting some debate. I also have outlined elsewhere on this site why the NBN would be good for ME…. but that does not explain why its necessary to roll the whole thing out to *supposedly* every Australian household (which we all know is hogwash).

          I hear a lot about the “NBN Business Plan”. What kind of “business” plan is it to spend incredible amounts of money, knowing full well the takeup rate will not be economically viable? Thats right, its not a business plan at all, its a POLITICAL plan. Wake up all you NBN supporters, there is a reality out there…….

      • @Backslider

        “Still waiting elsewhere for a decent reply from ANYONE as to exactly why THEY THEMSELVES need the NBN…”

        You need to get out more, haven’t you heard about the interactive dance mat?

        • Oh yes, I NEED one of those…. just worried about taking a fall and breaking a hip :-)

          • Of course, sorry… just a touch of old timer’s kicking in there, getting forgetful.

            So, when will the NBN hit Weelabarraback??? …. can’t wait for the virtual nurses :-P

          • yea, all these “anti-NBN’ers” are so retarded they don’t realise it’s actually more efficient to turn every home lounge into a operating theatre than actually SEND THE PATIENT TO THE HOSPITAL where all the surgeons, surgical assistants, specialist nurses, surgical equipment, medicine, monitoring equipment are co-located in one spot.

            i mean how retarded is that? who’s stupid idea was it to place all those things in one spot and conduct the surgery there in these out-dated, delapidated places called “hospitals”? clearly, it’s more efficient instead to turn every home into a make-shift operating theatre and have surgeons peer into monitors to do their tricky work over long distances. who in their right mind would want to have surgery conducted in specialised places called “hospitals”?

            in the future we will all bid for surgical services via Ebay, have pre-surgical consultations conducted via Skype, order self-administered anaesthetic kits via Amazon and share “surgeon recommendations” or “like” them using Facebook.

          • Don’t forget that we’ll all have an MRI in every house that will need the NBN high upload speeds.

            A (little bit) more seriously, once you have remote provision of medical services, why does the medical practitioner need to be in the nearby capital city? Surely these jobs will quickly be outsourced to somewhere cheaper, like India.

          • Pretty soon, thanks to the NBN, we’ll have robots programmed with the skills of the finest surgeons in the world… just trot down to your local neighborhood center, get a free online consultation and then off to the surgical cubicle….

            “Dammit! I said phlebotomy not lobotomy!!!!”

      • @BS, LOL… only a few days ago “methuselah”, you were inferring no political allegiances… but now look…sigh!

        News flash… all politicians lie… refer above to two examples and here’s two more… “the fibre will be ripped from the ground”… “there will never, ever be a GST”… from 2 PMs from opposite spectrums!

        Why is it you believe the sun shines from the derriere of one and never the other?

        Seriously, is anybody out there actually “against the NBN” for any other reason but their own political subserviency/selfishness…?

        So far the answer imo is a monumental NO…..

        Thanks for reaffirming it…!

        • God you fart a lot!

          I do believe you are totally ignorant, since no where in the world have I indicated that I have any political allegiance whatesoever. I do not…. however quite clearly you misguidedly do. I suggest that you spend some time within the inner workings of the Labor party, as I have, and listen to them all greet each other as “comrade”.

          I do believe that most who are against the current NBN plan are so, not for political reasons, but economic and social…. but you have already proved here and elsewhere that your only interest is YOU, so really you do not qualify to comment at all on what is in the national interest.

          • @Backslider says… “God you fart a lot”!

            My what an intelligently compelling [sic] argument, you and your precious political party (opposition) put forward…sigh

          • Dear oh dear…gee here we have another contradictory Lib puppet, FUDster…

            Where have you said you have political allegiances Backslider..?

            ABOVE…

            Backslider
            Posted 02/08/2011 at 1:06 pm | Permalink | Reply
            “By 1990, no Australian child will be living in poverty.”
            Yes, I believe everything that comes from the mouths of Labor pollies…..

            I await the inevitable, excuse!

          • Which proves nothing other than the fact that, unlike you, I am definitely not aligned with Labor.

            But of course, narrow minded FUDsters like you will interpret that to mean:

            1. I am a Liberal
            2. I am anti-NBN

            Carry on please…..

      • “how over two million disadvantaged Australians will benefit from it”

        Explain how “two million disadvantaged Australians” will benefit from not building the NBN.

        “Still waiting elsewhere for a decent reply from ANYONE as to exactly why THEY THEMSELVES need the NBN”

        You’ll be waiting a long time. Not because people dont need the NBN but because no answer will satisfy you.

        • You have already indicated elsewhere on this site that any social consideration is “irrelevant emotive ranting”.

          Yes folks, here is the person to whom consideration the interests of over two million disadvantaged Australians is “emotive ranting”. You should all listen to him.

          We do not expect anything from you in answer, not for the reason you state, but rather that you do not have a valid reason yourself.

          I have not stated anywhere that Australia does not need an NBN, but then, its to be expected from your ilk that we must tolerate your FUD as that is the only way you know how to defend that which cannot be…. the current NBN business plan. Its just the home insulation plan on steroids, and we all know about that one.

          • “You have already indicated elsewhere on this site that any social consideration is “irrelevant emotive ranting”.”

            Nope. Wrong again. I said your irrelevant emotive ranting is irrelevant emotive ranting.

            “two million disadvantaged Australians”

            Explain how “two million disadvantaged Australians” will benefit from not building the NBN.

            “We do not expect anything from you in answer blah blah blah piffle piffle waffle”

            yeah, unfortunately you still dont know what you are talking about. Now please stop derailing the discussion.

          • “Nope. Wrong again. I said your irrelevant emotive ranting is irrelevant emotive ranting.”

            A classic reply from a true FUDster. So what you are saying is that your opinion is based soley on the fact that I made a comment, not what I said. You prove yet again that your only agenda is to generate FUD.

            The truth is as I stated: To you, the consideration of the needs of over two million disadvantaged Australians is emotive ranting. Here is the relevant part of my comment, then your own reply:

            Backslider: “I could easily affford one of the best plans being floated around, and claim it entirely as a tax deduction to boot, but the NBN is supposed to be for all Australians, not just the selfish few who really don’t care, and have no need to care how much it costs.

            The average weekly earnings in Feb 2011 was $1004.10. This means that a very large sector of the community earns far less and in fact are struggling just to make ends meet, to pay their rent or mortage, put food on the table and see their kids through school. Many people more advantaged would say they would struggle just at the median figure. Think about it.”

            HC: ““This means that a very large sector of the community earns far less and in fact are struggling just to make ends meet blah blah blah more irrelevant emotive ranting”

            You are Mr FUD, through and through…….

          • Explain how “two million disadvantaged Australians” will benefit from not building the NBN.

          • I have said nothing about NOT building the NBN and you know it… just more of your typical FUD

            So, answer the question.

          • “I have said nothing about NOT building the NBN”

            Great. Bring on the fibre.

            “So, answer the question.”

            Stop derailing the discussion and explain how “two million disadvantaged Australians” will benefit from not building the NBN.

      • I need the NBN for my business, being a photographer with clients all over Australia and overseas, i need to send them images that are ever growing in size. Geeeezzzzeeee…..the selfishness of some people, you may not need it, doesn’t mean everyone else is in the same boat as you. The NBN is for all Australians, not just about you or me.

        Your great great great great grandchildren will be using the NBN to it’s full potential and will benefit from it in the distance future, he/she may run a business that needs this infrastructure. Notice, I say distance future. That’s the problem with you selfish “I’ve got ADSL, it’s enough for me now, stuff everyone else” people, the NBN is build for the foreseeable future, it’s a future proof technology, it’s capabilities expanded exponentially. Once it is in place, content creators will take advantage of it and create applications that will take advantage of the infrastructure. Just like the electricity grid, when it was first built, did you think it was built for TVs, microwaves, computers, medical equipments and much much more? I’m getting too old for this, getting tired of selfish people, the problem is, they only think about themselves. THE WORLD DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND YOU!

        As Alain, Avocate, Avocado says previously, this is the NBN that everybody wants. Can’t argue with Alain, he/she’s always right.

        • *I need the NBN for my business, being a photographer with clients all over Australia and overseas, i need to send them images that are ever growing in size. *

          “NBN” pushes fibre to every man, woman, pervert and dog. you don’t need the “NBN” for your little photography business. what you need is “SDSL” or “business grade fibre” for YOUR own special business purposes. can’t afford it? too bad. nobody’s problem but YOUR own. why? because it’s YOUR business. why should taxpayers subsidise YOUR business? what’s next? you want the Government to give YOU interest-free loans to buy expensive camera equipment? how about Government subsidies to rent a photography studio? you want taxpayers to pick up the tab for YOUR advertising costs too? if a fast internet connection is so critical to YOUR business, ever thought of setting up a tiny shared studio with other photographers to SHARE the costs of SDSL/fibre? if GPs, accountants, solicitors and financial planners can operate group practices to economise on overheads, why can’t YOU do the same? why are YOU so special? you’re running a BUSINESS — it’s YOUR job to innovate and improve YOUR BUSINESS MODEL to make things work better, instead of expecting the taxpayer to spend $50bln to fix YOUR problem. fix YOUR business model, “make do” or get another job.

          stop whining — THE WORLD DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND YOU!

          • @Tosh, your last line is most ironic, because every time I read one of your written and spoken on behalf of the Liberal party comments, I think the exact same thing about you…!

          • Not every business has the ability to turn over $1k per month to get sufficient bandwidth to conduct themselves in a competitive manner.

            The high cost of internet access for business IS a problem the government needs to address. There is business that is being stymied because high speed internet access is too expensive.

            My business pays tax, it deserves to get support from the government too.

          • Very valid point Marc…

            It is sad that those who politically oppose the NBN, will scream CVC etc and say.. “see this proves the government owned NBN is not affordable to average Aussies”, on the one hand… but then contradictorily (a trait very common amongst NBN naysayers) expects you, seemingly that very same average Aussie, to pay $1k a month, to private enterprise because their ideology says so…!

          • *Not every business has the ability to turn over $1k per month to get sufficient bandwidth to conduct themselves in a competitive manner.*

            running a competitive business is about finding a business model that works for YOU — if you need taxpayer subsidies to survive, your business is NOT COMPETITIVE.

            *The high cost of internet access for business IS a problem the government needs to address.*

            Governments do not have the power or ability to make “costs” disappear — all they do is shift the BURDEN of the “costs” from ONE group of people to ANOTHER group of people in an arbitrary fashion.

            *There is business that is being stymied because high speed internet access is too expensive.*

            YOU want to start a business selling X, but office rent, wages, insurance, taxes, internet, etc are too expensive. YOUR business is “being stymied” — please tax other competitive, self-viable businesses and subsidise YOUR failed business model.

            dream on.

            *My business pays tax, it deserves to get support from the government too.*

            we’re at the height of the mining boom and the Government is still mired in deficit — how do you propose the Government funds the “business welfare” that you demand? raise additional taxes on businesses?

            there is NO free lunch.

          • Err, in reply to Tosh, ditto, from my comment above…!

            Plus

            Tosh said – “if you need taxpayer subsidies to survive, your business is NOT COMPETITIVE”…

            Quite an ironic statement to make, when you consider, without taxpayer subsidies both past and present, as well as legislative access to the tax subsidised PSTN, Australia would have NO COMMS AT ALL…!

            Gee what a great plan [sic]… doing everything by the ultra conservative book…!

          • If the blokes photography business doesn’t turnover at least $1k p/m, then with all his other financial overheads, how will he afford pay for an NBN connection? How long until he uses up his NBN data quota?

            How many pics at what filesize is he sending? How many overseas? Has he even taken into account the TCP/IP window size when sending files offshore & how this limits his transfer speed?

            Frankly, he may be better off with a cheap ADSL (either Annex M or A) connection & a local FTP account for his clients to download their pics using their faster connection. A lot cheaper than $36-50 billion taxpayer funded NBN.

          • Cost of VPS to host photos on for clients with 100GB of quota: $30/m (iiNet)

            Cost of Annex M/A connection: from $60/m (TPG)

            Cost of Exctel NBN connection where uploads aren’t counted: up to $100/m

            The assumption that a small photography business won’t benefit from the NBN?: Priceless

          • Move your business porky. If you can’t get ADSL you will only be getting satellite or wireless anyway.

          • I am using wireless, and it’s crap. This is where the NBN comes in? To give every Australian a fair go. Which part of “fair go” don’t you understand? Whether i’m a residential customer, small business, big business, corporation….i am entitle to have access to the essential infrastucture. The CAN is on it’s last leg, they repaired it using plastic bags.

            The house two streets down from me got ADSL and i can’t get ADSL. FUDster says ADSL is enough, it’s available everywhere. When proven that’s not the case, they flipped. Ahhh….FUDster.

          • Excuse me, but no… sorry to disappoint you. Many Australians will only get wireless or satellite, not fibre.

            Wireless technology is improving massively, with exciting new stuff just around the corner and will likely end up a better option than fibre anyway.

          • ahhh….so the NBN is not being rolled out to every man and his dog….i think this is from one of the FUDster: “NBN” pushes fibre to every man, woman, pervert and dog.

          • *assume i can get ADSL where i live?*

            get ADSL where you LIVE? i thought you were talking about your photography BUSINESS. most people have to LEAVE their houses to go to work. why can’t you rent a studio somewhere where you can access ADSL/fibre? why do taxpayers have to subsidise your lazy ass so you only have to fall out of bed in one room and walk over to another room to so-called “work”. get a real job.

          • My studio is set up at my home. Why do you assume that a business can’t be run from a home address? Again, the norrow minded FUDster speaks.

          • YOUR question:

            *Why do you assume that a business can’t be run from a home address?*

            YOUR own answer:

            *Fools….why do you assume i can get ADSL where i live?*

          • @Salami C

            “My studio is set up at my home.”

            Why did you set up a business that requires high-speed fixed line BB knowing you cannot get it in the first place and based on the flaky assumption that at some unknown point the future you MIGHT get NBN FTTH?

          • I’m currently in a Third World country and have free access to ADSL , almost anywhere here …. perhaps you should be jumping up and down about that rather than onto the NBN bandwagon….

            Some years ago Telecom put in 8 poles to my *mining camp* in outback NSW just so I could have a line, only charging a small fee for the last pole….. you need to learn how to stand up for yourself….

        • “The NBN is for all Australians, not just about you or me.”

          Well, this part you have correct, but the sad part is that its never going to be a reality.

          I accept that the NBN would be advantageous for your business, and that of Renai… I have stated elsewhere why it would be good for my business also, however this does not justify it. We need good reasons why this rollout to “all” Australian households is needed. The truth is, its not.

          Yes, Australia does need better fibre connectivity and all should have reasonable access to it. This does not however mean its necessary to roll out fibre to every house and business in the country, thats just a total waste.

          If your business cannot afford what is currently available and which would in fact be sufficient, this does not justify the NBN at public expense. You negate your first statement that the NBN is for all Australians (which is a misguided porkie anyway).

          • “This does not however mean its necessary to roll out fibre to every house and business in the country”

            What is the correct percentage to roll out fibre to?

            “thats just a total waste.”

            False.

          • Probably not that many, but regardless, we would never have a program to give every Australian a pair, would we?

            So, how many Australians need the NBN as being rolled out by Labor?

      • “Neither of you two are old enough or experienced enough to understand the true nature of Labor, that is clear, or to “know” anything about climate besides what is politically correct.”

        Now THAT sounds like the statement of someone who may be too old and conservative to know or care.

        Hmmm?

        I think playing the “ist” card hardly adds value to any argument.

        • Yeah right, but its ok for NBN / Labor supporters to play any card that they like…. the comments on this website are full of their FUD, take a look.

          • It is apparent that pro-NBNers come from across the political divide.

            Obviously, there are and will always be, Labor voters supporting their party alone…

            But, there are also swinging voters, Liberals, Nationals, Greens and even Independent politicians, who historically have associations with the conservative side of politics, all united, because WE want what is best for Australia, not simply and disgustingly, one’s own blind political ideology and wallet…

            Whereas imo, it has become very clear that to be an anti-NBNer, the only prerequisite required, is to be a rad con (and/or a fool)…

          • pro-NBNer Labor supporter….. you cannot engage in reasonable discussion and feel the need for FUD and to label anybody who doesn’t agree with your selfish and small minded views as anti-NBN and Liberal supporters.

            Your only interest is what you feel is best for you. You have proven that many times over, so don’t start now with the “all united, because WE want what is best for Australia” crap.

          • @ Backslider…

            Thank you for proving beyond doubt my closing statement above, to be 100% correct…!

          • Pro-NBNer…

            …And a Labor voter

            …And a nice guy

            …And look those pigs are flying today…

          • Ah Backslider (LOL) …me you say…

            Pro NBN… ah yes obviously

            Labor voter (currently) ah yes obviously – although get rid of the idiot that is Abbott, replace him with Turnbull (who once leader can decide we actually do need FTTP and a republic) – then no…

            Nice guy – yes, thanks for admitting the obvious.

            Pigs fly – only if you expect us to believe the equally unbelievable – that you are not a political stooge…!

  4. Gotta love those who supported this government’s waste are somehow trying to justify the fact that the government it totally misleading the community about how successful the program is. Michael Wyres struggling to justify this in your own mind now? I wish YOU got the bill for this crap!

    Just to show you wireless evolution is no where near over why don’t you do a little reading rather then simply commenting on “I wants” http://toucharcade.com/2011/07/28/details-of-onlive-ceos-new-wireless-technology-revealed/ This is but one of the huge array of new technology being released in the coming years. Wireless will continue to evolve to solve the problems asked of it.

    • Hi Chris…

      I was unable to peruse your link earlier, for whatever the reason (my guess being, I do NOT have NBN access yet…LOL)…

      However, although the URL you posted was quite interesting, seriously, the entire site reeks of smurf and thus, is almost impossible to take seriously…

  5. I’m sure everyone (and I mean everyone) agrees with you Chris… of course, wireless will continue to improve…

    I’d even go as far as to say, that one day in the far, distant future, wireless may even be half as good as fibre…!

    In the meantime, gotta go, my mobile is ringing and here in 2011 reality, I have no reception even in my own home and have to go outside to answer a call ;-)

  6. Schools or Hospitals shouldn’t be provided as justification for connecting building the NBN. It would be far cheaper to run fibre from the local exchange to every school and hospital in the country and provide it for free than to build the NBN.

    That is not to say there are not valid reasons for building the NBN. I tend to agree with Renai that SMEs stand the most to gain. However if this is the primary reason, then it might be better value to cable business districts first. Comments suggest (although the NBNCo plan disagrees) that businesses will connect at higher speeds and larger quotas delivering a quicker return on investment enabling the network to be self-funded sooner.

    • *However if this is the primary reason, then it might be better value to cable business districts first. Comments suggest (although the NBNCo plan disagrees) that businesses will connect at higher speeds and larger quotas delivering a quicker return on investment enabling the network to be self-funded sooner.*

      it will make absolutely no difference to the viability of universal fibre access if you cable the business districts first. firstly, the number of residential premises completely dwarfs the number of business premises. secondly, even if the number of residential and business premises were equal, you’d have to tax (or toll) the shit out of the generally higher ARPU business connections to subsidise the lower ARPU residential connections.

      there are already numerous providers offering fibre to businesses — if you already can’t afford it, pushing fibre to every goddamn household isn’t going to make it any cheaper.

    • While I agree that Australia needs a better fibre network, pushing it to every man and his dog is just plain silly, and as I stated earlier, the NBN is a political plan, not a business plan.

      Let me ask you. If Labor had never offered an NBN, would you have voted for them? :-)

      • Err, fibre IS NOT going to every man and his dog, but please don’t let the facts hinder your ever more evudent political crusade… !

        • If you would learn to speak Australian, you would know when to take something literally or not.

          • Rizz is RS, who was banned the other day for misbehaving and being the ultimate FUDster

          • @ Backslider…

            Strangely and rather illiterately, you use the term FUD, to describe pro-NBNers?

            FYI – Pro-NBNers have a positive, anything but FUDulent outlook in relation to the NBN…!

          • @Rizz, RS, Porky Chorizo… whatever you want to call yourself…. strangely and rather illiterately, you use the term FUD, to describe pro-NBNers

            You are not pro-NBN, you are pro YOU, nothing more, other than the supreme FUDmaestro.

            In your small mindedness, you think that anybody who wants to bring some SANITY to the whole NBN debacle is anti-NBN… doh!

          • My new play friend [sic] BS… for you to fully understand the term FUD, please consult both of the following…

            1. Mirror
            2. Dictionary

            …and In that order ;-)

          • I know, you really only play with yourself.

            We did go through this the other day… please go back to your study until you truly understand what FUD is… the self realization will amaze you!!!

          • Psycho… not everybody has multiple personalities like you… you forget who you are, or who you have conversed with…. sad sick puppy

          • Just when we thought the FUDsters couldn’t possibly get any sillier or dishonest, along comes a new contender who makes the rest of them, even seem intelligent and honourable…!

          • Yeah, just like FUDsters who need to keep changing their name….

            I know, I shouldn’t feed a troll like you…. but its fun just to see how stupid you can really show yourself to be.

            You know all about honesty… right….. pah!

  7. We all knew that Rizz is RS, he had a disclaimer when he first started using Rizz as his handle. It’s only the FUDster that doesn’t read, only read and know what wan’t to know.

    • Ahhhh… yet another pot calling the kettle black. C’mon porky chorizo, bring it on……

    • yep doesn’t take a genius to figure this one out considering rizz has stated it many times, only the anti-NBN crusaders dont seem to be able to catch on for some reason… I look forward to the next wave of BS meltdowns though, seems he was up all night, so go easy on him he hasn’t had much sleep :-(

      • Keep up…. I’m not in Australia…

        So, where did he state that he is also Porky Chorizo??

        We’ve already had the “anti-NBN” discussion…. please read the thread before you pipe up with your FUD.

        • Your floundering was amusing but now it’s just sad… you should also learn the meaning of FUD, you are just embarrassing yourself now. Hint: Goggle it.

  8. I wonder how they will go with the NBN for the bag lady that lives at Circular Quay…. or the fella that lives in cardboard boxes up on George Street….. or the 2 Million+ who simply won’t afford it….. or the people on that mission way out in woop woop….. wonder….

    oops, sorry, that’s just emotive and irrelevant… right?

    • “bag lady”

      Explain how “bag lady” will benefit from not building the NBN.

      “fella that lives in cardboard boxes”

      Explain how “fella that lives in cardboard boxes” will benefit from not building the NBN.

      “people on that mission”

      Explain how “people on that mission” will benefit from not building the NBN.

      “that’s just emotive and irrelevant… right?”

      In your case yes everything you say is emotive and irrelevant. Thanks for stopping by.

      • You must be the thickest idiot on the planet!

        Nobody has said anything about NOT building the NBN… the question is there to show that mindless idiots like you do not have an answer…. your only interest being YOURSELF…. not what is good for Australia as a whole, or any individual, other than you.

        You are unable to answer it, so you pretend to be “smart” by answering with stupid questions.

        Stay at home FUDster……

        • Calling people idiots because you can’t answer their questions? My my, more personal attacks and more FUDster spins. The majority of Australians want this NBN built, the Lib lost because they came to the table with an arse of a comms policy, that’s why they lost. Proves that the Australian people want the NBN.

          • Calling people FUDster because YOU cannot answer their questions… ur just a DFUDster…lol

            You are just gonna cry when the Socialists lose the next election… LMAO!

        • “You must be the thickest idiot on the planet!”

          Seems that crown belongs to you…

          “Nobody has said anything about NOT building the NBN”

          Do you believe the current NBN plan (with 93% FTTH coverage) should go ahead as planned? Yes or No?

          If yes then great we have nothing else to discuss.

          If no then please explain how “two million disadvantaged Australians” will benefit from not building the NBN as planned.

          “your only interest being YOURSELF…. not what is good for Australia as a whole, or any individual, other than you.”

          False. I want everyone to have access to the same speeds that I get.

          “You are unable to answer it”

          Answer what? What question did you ask? I’m asking you for an explanation but you still seem to be dodging it and keep derailing the discussion with you irrelevant rantings…

          “FUDster”

          FUD. Once again Google it.

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