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© Kondinin Group This article has been reproduced with permission from Farming Ahead. For more information about Kondinin Group phone 1800 677 761. Further duplication of this article is not permitted.
Internet access
Te c h n o l o g y
HiBIS brings affordable broadband to the bush T
he Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme (HiBIS) is great news for farmers who have endured frustratingly slow internet speeds. The scheme aims to bridge the broadband internet speed gap between rural users and their city counterparts. Funded by the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA), the scheme is set to ensure immediate results by providing funding of $3300 per connection to HiBISregistered internet service providers (ISPs) capable of providing broadband in rural areas. Higher internet speeds The aim is to provide ‘metro-comparable’ service and the scheme boasts $107 million of Federal Government funding. Metro-comparable is defined simply as the entry level broadband package available in the city (256 kilo bits per second (kbs) download speed and 64kbs upload speed with a 500megabyte (Mb) monthly allowance at a similar cost to the plans available in suburbia). Already some ISPs claim to deliver the minimum HiBIS standard (256kbs download and 64kbs upload, 500Mb per month) to any location in Australia and up to 200 kilometres out to sea. Provided the user is eligible for HiBIS — most farmers will fall into this category — full satellite systems are being offered at no set-up costs and with some restricted plans as low
Picking up the tab nyone who has existing infrastructure could be paying for this when HiBIS could be picking up the tab.
A
Generally, HiBIS will not fund existing infrastructure such as hardware and installation that has already happened and been fully paid for. But if the farmer is paying off set-up costs or is on a high cost plan with a contract to cover set-up, the scheme should pick up the balance of the set-up costs and allow the farmer to transfer immediately to the lower cost HiBIS plan. Farmers who have fully paid for the cost of equipment and set-up will be eligible for the lower cost HiBIS monthly plan payment but will not be eligible for any refunds to set-up and hardware costs. Contact the existing ISP to find out if the ISP is registered and the options for transferring to a HiBIS-subsidised plan. It is worthwhile considering the cost of shifting to a HiBIS-registered ISP compared with possible existing contract commitments.
FA R M I N G A H E A D
No. 155
December 2004
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If ISDN is available, even if not installed, a reduced subsidy of $1540 is available to the HiBIS-registered ISP. The subsidy is reduced because the ISP can provide metro-comparable broadband using lower cost one-way satellite technology where the satellite dish is only used for downloads (data received by the computer) and the ISDN telephone link is used for uploads (data leaving the computer). Currently, Telstra Bigpond and Bordernet are the only ISPs registered to provide HiBISsubsidised broadband for eligible premises where ISDN is available. See Table 1 for resources to find information on ISPs that offer HiBIS access.
Peter Walsh, IMAGINE AUSTRALIA
as $45 per month (visit the eSat web site at www.esat.com.au/hibis/budget.html). Easy application process Farmers can access the benefits of the scheme simply by applying for an ‘off-theshelf’ internet connection from a HiBISregistered ISP. The $3300 incentive makes it attractive for ISPs to become registered and it is likely the number of registered ISPs will increase rapidly. Applications are available on the DCITA web site at www.dcita.gov.au. Choosing the right ISP To make the best choice of ISP it is important to understand the distinction the HiBIS scheme makes where an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) telephone service is available. Generally, ISDN is available within about 15 kilometres of the nearest telephone exchange. To check ISDN availability visit the web site www.telstra.com.au/isdn/avail.htm or phone Telstra on 13 2200.
Making a difference in rural areas Kondinin Group has lobbied strongly to increase the availability of broadband services on farms including providing submissions to the Regional Telecommunications Enquiry. Kondinin Group members stand to benefit significantly from the HiBIS initiative. According to the 2003 Kondinin Group National Agricultural Survey (NAS), 85 per cent of members had internet access and 62% used it regularly. But the average internet speed reportedwas a snail’s pace 37kbs. Ninety-three per cent of members used dial-up connections, 3% used broadband and 4% accessed the internet via satellite. This contrasts with the availability of broadband services to city-based homes and businesses. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reported that 250,000 broadband services had been connected by March 2002 and the figure reached one million during August 2004. About the author Peter Walsh (pictured) is a technology adviser with Imagine Australia. Email:
[email protected] Phone: (08) 9384 9267; Fax: (08) 9385 4549.
TABLE 1 Contacts for the HiBIS scheme DCITA web site
www.dcita.gov.au
HiBIS scheme
www.telinfo.gov.au/HiBIS%20page.htm#what (for overview) or www.dcita.gov.au/Article/0,,0_1-2_3-4_117154,00.html (scheme in detail)
HiBIS call centre
1800 883 488
HiBIS providers
www.dcita.gov.au/Article/0,,0_1-2_3-4_119589,00.html
Bigpond
www.bigpond.com/internet-plans/broadband/satellite/1way/ 256-200MB/default.asp
Bordernet
www.bordernet.com.au/HiBISiSat.html
eSat
www.esat.com.au/hibis/budget.html
ISDN availability
www.telstra.com.au/isdn/avail.htm or phone 13 2200.
Imagine Communications
www.imagineonline.com.au
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