Crown broadband lauded by local government
By Tim O?Connell
The possibility of having a Government-owned broadband provider to has been welcomed by Local Government New Zealand. The proposal made last week by Prime Minister John Key, shaping up as a strong indicator of the direction the government plans to go with its $1.5 billion investment on broadband throughout the country. According to LGNZ President Lawrence Yule, the announcement brings the possibility of total broadband coverage one step closer. Furthermore, he believed it reduced the chance of smaller and rural communities missing out owing to a disadvantageous location in the eyes of service providers. ?There are many places in New Zealand where high-speed broadband is not available and telecommunications companies have said they will not invest in those places that don?t fit with their commercial model,? said Mr Yule. ?We welcome the Government?s plans to provide funding and alternative solutions for the 25 selected cities and towns. While expressing overall optimism, Mr Yule added that his organisation would maintain dialogue with the government to ensure other aspects of broadband spending and regulation were addressed in the near future. ?We would be against any proposals which risk imposing a prescriptive national standard which is not acceptable for every community,? he said.
