Synopsis

With the National Broadband Network slowly becoming a reality, cities, regions and communities are starting to become involved in developing strategies that will see them taking advantage of the social and economic benefits that the National Broadband Network can bring. It is therefore vitally important that communities take charge of the development of their knowledge-based environments. A proactive local government is a vital element in the deployment of broadband to the point where it can begin to deliver community benefits in education, healthcare, community services, job creation and export. Lack of infrastructure has so far led to very limited action taken either by state and local government in Australia, which is in stark contrast to events overseas.

Potentially, under the current Coalition government councils will have to become more actively involved in infrastructure especially if local councils have the aspiration of becoming involved in smart cities based on gigabit infrastructure.

This report discusses the National Broadband Network agenda that communities should develop and the strategies that should flow from it. It is essential that local councils become actively involved in the National Broadband Network. The most active ones will most likely be among the first cabs off the rank where the National Broadband Network will be deployed and potentially be upgraded to gigabit networks.