The Government has committed to fund up to $4.7 billion and to consider necessary regulatory change to facilitate the roll-out of a high-speed fibre broadband network offering at least 12 megabits per second to 98 percent of Australian homes and businesses within five years of commencement.
The new panel, which was announced today by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, will be chaired by Patricia Scott, the Secretary of his department.
"The Panel will bring a fine blend of technical, regulatory, business, investment and policy skills and experience to the process," Senator Conroy said.
"The Government will formally call for innovative and competitive proposals to roll-out the new network with a view to having construction underway by the end of 2008."
Other members of the panel include:
John Wylie, Lazard Carnegie Wylie CEO.
Tony Mitchell, Allphones Chairman.
Laureate Professor Rod Tucker, University of Melbourne.
Professor Emeritus of Communications, Reg Coutts, University of Adelaide.
Tony Shaw, former Australian Communications Authority Chairman.
Dr Ken Henry AC, Treasury Secretary.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will provide advice on pricing and competition issues and deliver a written report to the panel.
