THE NATIONALS TO ADDRESS MOBILE PHONE BLACKSPOTS
August 13, 2013
Local communities with inadequate mobile phone service will have access to a $100 million nationwide fund to improve coverage under a Coalition Government according to Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.
Mr Chester, who has been campaigning for a program to improve mobile phone black spots as well as a better system to provide emergency alerts since 2008, said Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott had outlined his plan to improve mobile phone coverage.
“There have been improvements in mobile phone coverage in recent years as technology has become more advanced but residents from at least 20 communities in Gippsland have indicated to my office that they do not currently have access to adequate mobile phone coverage,” Mr Chester said.
“A Coalition Government will address this issue by building hundreds of much needed base stations across Australia and will partner with affected communities, the State Government and telecommunications companies to leverage additional funds.
“The previous Coalition government made the elimination of mobile phone black spots a national priority but the Rudd-Gillard Government has ignored my calls for a dedicated black spot program and better system to provide alerts during natural disaster events.
“I welcome our policy which will help address an issue that is becoming an increasing source of frustration for Gippslanders and will be working to secure a fair share of the funding for affected local communities.”
Mr Chester said 60 per cent of Gippslanders that responded to his recent ‘Have Your Say’ survey believed that the Federal Government should help pay to fix mobile phone black spots.
The Coalition’s $100 million Mobile Phone Black Spot Program includes:
* $80 million for a Mobile Network Expansion Program to improve coverage along major transport routes, in small communities and in locations prone to experiencing natural disasters;
* $20 million for a Mobile Black Spot Program to address unique problems such as locations with high seasonal demand and deliver a targeted response and;
* Co-location of new mobile phone base stations with many of the NBN’s fixed wireless broadband towers that are being rolled out across regional Australia – a sensible solution that has not happened under Labor.