Fletcher encourages Bradfield residents to complete the Coalition’s broadband survey

Bradfield residents can help the Coalition set its priorities for upgrading Australia’s broadband by completing the Coalition’s nationwide survey on broadband trends, Federal Member for Bradfield Paul Fletcher said today.

The survey is available online at www.fasterbroadband.com.au and via a link at www.paulfletcher.com.au.

“The NBN is taking too long to be rolled out and costs too much.  But on top of that, it is not prioritising the areas with the worst broadband today,” Mr Fletcher said.

“Many residents of Bradfield get a reasonable broadband service.   The Optus and Telstra HFC (cable) networks cover much of our area.  For people served by DSL over Telstra’s copper lines, those within a kilometre or two of the Pacific Highway are also likely to be reasonably close to a Telstra exchange – which is important because a critical determinant of speed over DSL is the length of the copper run from the exchange to the home.

“However, I do get regular complaints about broadband speeds in areas a long way from the Pacific Highway, such as North and South Turramurra.

“There may be other areas of inadequate service which the survey will reveal.

“By completing the survey, residents can provide information about how good – or bad – their broadband service is.

“This will help us build up a systematic picture of the areas of greatest need – in Bradfield and around the nation.

“In turn this will help the Coalition prioritise broadband upgrades should we come to government.

“That means directing spending to areas of urgent need as the highest priority – a principle which, for some bizarre reason, the Gillard Government is ignoring when it comes to the NBN.”

Mr Fletcher said the Coalition is committed to upgrading broadband sooner, cheaper and more affordably for consumers.

The Coalition’s plan for better broadband will encourage competition among infrastructure providers rather than stamp it out.

It will see existing infrastructure used where possible and will use a mix of technologies, meaning broadband speeds will be upgraded much sooner and at less cost to taxpayers than under Labor’s approach.

And using the results of this survey, the Coalition will prioritise the areas of greatest broadband need - in Bradfield and around the nation - so that residents of those areas do not facing waiting another decade for Labor to deliver on its promises.