RESEARCH MATERIAL FOR THE SERIOUS-MINDED
{the following is work-in-progress}

> A brief history of public opposition to the overhead/aerial roll-out of Pay TV HFC (hybrid fibre-coaxial) cables during the period 1995-1996

> How this opposition led to the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 1997 ; how this Ministerial Determination gave States and Territories planning control over future roll-out of aerial cables for telecommunications

> How this opposition also led to the Putting Cables Underground Working Group Report to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts in November 1998. (Report available from within that link.)

> How this opposition led to formation of the Cables Downunder group

> Background to the IPART (Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South Wales) Final Report to the Minister for Energy ‘Electricity Undergrounding in New South Wales’ in May 2002.

> Background to how the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) conceived of dis-empowering the public by neutering local planning powers over the then anticipated roll-out of aerial cables for a National Broadband Network; references to include:
- Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, 2009. 'National Broadband Network: Regulatory reform for 21st Century Broadband – Discussion paper' Australian Government, Canberra, 3 June 2009 (refer to page 9 in particular)
- McKinsey-KPMG, 2010. 'Implementation Study for the National Broadband Network', 5 March 2010;
- NBN Co Corporate Plan, released 20 December 2010

> Submission dated 3 June 2009 in response to the DBCDE discussion paper ‘National Broadband Network: Regulatory Reform for 21st Century Broadband’ (refer to Issue 2 in particular) and article in technical press referring to same.

> Highlights of submissions to the Senate Select Committee on the National Broadband Network

http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/broadband_ctte/submissions_from_april_2009/sublist.htm 
for submissions 94, 95, 95a, 95b, 95c & 96

and

http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/broadband_ctte/submissions_from_march_2010/sublist.htm
for submissions 124, 125 & 125a

> My paper published in Volume 60, Number 3, 2010 of the Telecommunications Journal of Australia (subscription required) “Testing The Vision: Can aerial construction truly deliver ‘a historic nation-building investment focussed on Australia’s long-term national interest’?” [ PDF: warning - large download of 2.6 MB]

> The proposed amendments to the Telecommunications (Low-Impact Facilities) Determination 1997 and the Telecommunications Regulations 2001 which include granting NBN Co the power to deploy aerial/overhead cabling without having to obtain state, territory or local government planning permission.
Proposed regulatory changes to facilitate the rollout of next-generation broadband infrastructure

> My submission to the DBCDE dated 7 September 2011 in response to the above Invitation to Comment.