$53Million for regional connectivity

The Australian Government has announced up to $53 million for a new Regional Connectivity Program to improve access to, and participation in, the digital economy for regional Australians.

The program will provide targeted, place-based investment in telecommunications infrastructure projects which facilitate economic and social opportunities in communities not classified as being in a Major Urban area and are outside the existing NBN fixed-line footprint.

This includes communities in the Lachlan Shire.

Federal Member for Parkes, the Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government Mark Coulton said he was pleased to announce the opening of the competitive assessment process for the program.

Calling for applications, the Minister said details on how to apply for program funding and the assessment criteria for eligible projects may be found in the program Guidelines. These are available from the Government’s GrantConnect website at www.grants.gov.au.

 Applications are due by 5:00pm on 20 October, 2020.

“As part of the application process, the Government has launched a project noticeboard to help interested parties to form partnerships with the telecommunications sector and to develop applications for program funding,” Mr Coulton said.

Potential projects may be viewed, uploaded and shared at: www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/internet/regional-connectivity-program/regional-connectivity-program-noticeboard.

The noticeboard will be available until the closing date for applications.

Further information on the program and the project noticeboard can be obtained by contacting the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications at [email protected].