Last chance to nominate mobile coverage black spots

Paul Fletcher MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications, has issued a reminder that next week is the last chance for people to nominate locations for the Abbott Government’s $100 million Mobile Black Spot Programme. Final nominations of eligible black spots are due by 5pm on Friday the 1st of August and can be made by emailing [email protected].

Under the Mobile Black Spot Programme, the Abbott Government will invest $100 million in telecommunications infrastructure to improve mobile coverage in outer metropolitan, regional and remote Australia. The Mobile Black Spot Programme will improve mobile coverage along major transport routes, in small communities and in locations prone to experiencing natural disasters, as well as addressing unique mobile coverage problems such as areas with high seasonal demand.

“Shortly we will commence a competitive selection process to determine the locations to be funded under the programme. To be eligible for consideration under the competitive selection process, a location must have been the subject of a nomination by a member of the public,” Mr Fletcher said.

Mr Fletcher said he had met with more than 50 local communities in every state of Australia to gather community feedback on mobile coverage issues and to discuss how the Programme will operate.

“I want to thank the many thousands of individuals and community groups that have taken the time to let us know about how important mobile coverage is – whether it be for emergency response, natural disasters, education, tourism or other business communications,” Mr Fletcher said.

The Government will commence a competitive selection process in the second half of this year, with a view to announcing the locations which have been selected for funding in the first half of 2015. The Government anticipates that the first base stations funded under the programme will begin to roll out in the second half of 2015.

For more information visit www.communications.gov.au/mobile_services/mobile_black_spot_programme