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<TITLE>Broadband Connect Chaos - ISP's Shutting down?</TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS">Hey all,</FONT>
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<P> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS">While the news has been all rosy about the new $162.5 million for the new Aust broadband Guarantee programme, it is not exactly as would seem. The Australian article </FONT><A HREF="http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,21349928%5E15306%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS">http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,21349928%5E15306%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html</FONT></U></A><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS"> has a bit more meat in it about the real situation.</FONT></P>
<P> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS">Something that wasn't mentioned was the reason for the funds depleting early… I've heard rumours to the effect that Telstra are behind the sudden depletion of the Broadband Connect fund with a $60million claim… </FONT></P>
<P> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS">I have also heard in various reports that two Broadband Connect funded ISP's have either shutdown and/or fired all their staff, as well as others ceasing installations and considering their options - especially since the new funding may not be available till after May.</FONT></P>
<P> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS">If anyone knows which ISP's are shutting down/firing staff… can you please let me know privately as there are some groups who are looking for information to consider how they might respond to the government.</FONT></P>
<P> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS">I think that with this realisation, it wont be long (days - once the dust clears) before the media starts to really understand that it may be months before any customers in regional areas may be able to commence their installs/rollouts. This obviously has a massive trickle-down effect on hardware supplies, cash flow, installers and ultimately end customers.</FONT></P>
<P> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS">Any thoughts?</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">_______________________________________________________</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Skeeve Stevens, RHCE Email: skeeve@skeeve.org</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Website: </FONT><A HREF="file://www.skeeve.org"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">www.skeeve.org</FONT></U></A><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New"> - Telephone: (0414) 753 383</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">skype://skeeve</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Address: P.O Box 1035, Epping, NSW, 1710, Australia</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">eIntellego - skeeve@eintellego.net - </FONT><A HREF="file://www.eintellego.net"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">www.eintellego.net</FONT></U></A>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">_______________________________________________________</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">I'm a groove licked love child king of the verse</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Si vis pacem, para bellum</FONT>
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