Letters
ACMA reveals one in three NBN connections fail
Ed,
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has revealed massive deficiencies in the rollout of the NBN across regional Australia. The independent survey from the ACMA has found that one in three households are left without phone or internet services when connecting to the NBN. What’s worse is that more than 10 per cent of households continue to be without services after more than a month. This is a far cry from what NBN Co and the Government claim.
Put simply, this is not good enough for business or households who rely on these services for work, study and online transactions. It is a shocking indictment on Malcolm Turnbull and his second-rate copper NBN which is just not up to scratch.
Labor has long called for action to improve people’s experience of connecting to the NBN. The Government must update Australia’s telecommunications consumer-rights framework to include real consumer protections and guarantees. In 2018, it is absurd that our Universal Service Obligation provides rights for phone boxes but not a household internet connection. That it guarantees access to a telephone but not essential broadband services.
It’s time the Government get serious about this problem. The Government needs to act and act, without delay.
They cannot continue to bury their heads in the sand on this matter. Doing nothing is simply not good enough.
Stephen Jones MP
Shadow Minister for Regional Communications