NBN Co will spend more than $34 million to give customers on its satellite service access to adequate broadband speeds and provide new satellite services for up to 9000 additional households, farms and small businesses across Australia.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The National Broadband Network Interim Satellite Service, created at an initial cost of $351 million, has become congested with some of the 44,000 premises on the service experiencing little better than dial-up speeds during peak periods.
The ISS has also been unable to add new customers because the previous government expanded the eligibility criteria but failed to acquire new capacity to meet demand.
New users will be able to register for the new service in coming months and we will provide further details for those wishing to investigate this option locally.
The Interim Satellite Service was put in place to manage demand for broadband services in remote areas ahead of the launch of NBN Co’s Long Term Satellite Service.
HIPPY program about to kick off in Orange
It was great to visit the Glenroi Community Centre last week to discuss the roll-out of a new program targeting learning in Indigenous four-year-olds.
The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) provides in-home support for parents and carers to integrate learning activities and materials into daily life.
CareWest has been selected by the Australian government to roll out the program with 25 local Indigenous families.
HIPPY began as a research project in Israel in 1969 and now operates in the USA, Germany, Austria, South Africa, Canada, El Salvador, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.
Since 1998 HIPPY has been delivered to 50 sites and communities across Australia.
The first 25 Indigenous-focused HIPPY sites will commence in 2014, including Orange, with a further 25 commencing in 2015, bringing the total to 100 sites.
Small business super made simpler
Small businesses will benefit from another piece of red-tape reduction, with the Australian Taxation Office taking over responsibility for the Small Business Superannuation Clearing House.
The super clearing house is a great tool for small businesses, because it cuts down the time and paperwork involved in paying contributions to employees’ different super funds.
There are now 58,000 employers registered with the clearing house and we are encouraging the other 700,000 businesses that are eligible to use the clearing house, to sign up.
The clearing house is contactable 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1300 660 048 or searching the new website www.ato.gov.au/sbsch.
