Wednesday, February 15, 2012

National Broadband Network Business Model

Paul Fletcher MP, will speak on "Why the NBN business model is deeply flawed ...?" at the Australian Computer Society meeting in Canberra, 12 Noon 28 February 2012.

ACS TSA Communication SIG

Why the NBN business model is deeply flawed ...?

Why it matters from a public policy perspective

Paul will present the case that, as a standalone business model, the NBN is fundamentally flawed. It is far too costly – reflecting political decisions. Its take up assumptions are extremely unrealistic, and are unlikely to be met. This matters because taxpayers are paying; and if it is a commercial failure it will also be a public policy failure, with the likely result being collapse well before the build is complete. There is no cost benefit analysis to demonstrate that public benefits exceed the costs. Early signs confirm the view that the business case is flawed. The better approach for Government support of broadband is to focus on areas of broadband need, focus on ubiquitous services rather than the highest speeds, make the private sector the driver with government subsidies appropriately targeted where necessary, and to promote a funding model that is sustainable in the long term.

Biography: Paul Fletcher MP, Member for Bradfield

Paul Fletcher was first elected to the Federal Parliament as the Member for Bradfield at a by-election in December 2009 and was subsequently re-elected with an increased majority in August 2010. Prior to entering Parliament, Paul was the principal of a strategic consulting firm serving the communications sector and before that was Director, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, at Optus for eight years. He is a well-known figure in communications policy in Australia and recently wrote a highly regarded book on broadband and telecommunications, Wired Brown Land. Paul previously worked as Senior Advisor, and then Chief of Staff to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Richard Alston, during the Howard Government. He has dual first class honours degrees in law and economics from The University of Sydney and an MBA from Columbia University in New York where he was a Fulbright Scholar.

About this Event

Date: Tuesday 28th February 2012
Time: 12:00pm for 12:15pm start finish 1:45pm

Register On-line

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