Community Tower Project
From apc.au wiki
The Community Tower Project (CTP) aims to increase broadband wireless capacity for regional and rural communities.
It also seeks to identify equitable broadband tariffs for regional and rural communities based on the concept of regional and rural community owned communications towers.
Contents |
Pilot project
Mongarlowe, located in the NSW southern-tablelands catchment area is a low-priority broadband coverage.
Possible to likely Wimax coverage is mooted, however to date no suitable communications tower is in place, nor has a likely site been identified.
Issues
- Several rural and regional centres of Australia are still to see broadband access put in place, some listed as low-priority (eg. Palerang Council, Southern Tablelands, NSW).
- Satellite an option, but expensive for individual users.
- Limited knowledge in the region to the needs of communities with relation to broadband capacity.
- Rural and regional associations and authorities are establishing low carbon emissions policies, have identified ICTs (video conferencing) as a means to reduce extensive travel, but low bandwidth capacity limits the means by which ICTs can be implemented to meet new policy requirements.
Strategies
The CTP would provide broadband wireless access at affordable rates to communities.
Communications costs would be offset by lease / co-location agreements with communications providers.
Trial project covering districts of Braidwood, Mongarlowe.
apc.au seeking to identify existing models for community owned towers, particularly those that support regional and rural communities.
Research notes
The Australian Broadband Guarantee will provide subsidised Internet access for Australians currently unable to gain a reasonable level of broadband service at their principal place of residence or small business.
