[AusNOG] Labor to force people to connect to broadband

[Paul Brooks]

On 30/07/2010 4:17 PM, Brad Gould wrote:
> For better or worse, the government has decided to do something - and in
> a big way - like building a hyperspace bypass.
>
The government hasn't decided to do anything. The government is investigating the 
option and looking at the implications - no decision has been made.
I imagine it will depend on just which legislation will need to be changed.

> Accepting that as fact - whats the best way to do it?
>
> Multiple truck rolls for individual buildings?  Low takeup and more
> inefficiency on a project that has very questionable economics in the
> first place?
>
I'm stuffed if I can see any extra costs in the current 'opt-in' scenario. If someone 
asks for a dedicated truck-roll at a later date to get connected, they (or their first 
RSP) will be paying to have that done from their own pocket. No net increase in cost 
to NBN Co, no change to 'efficiency' - the user will be compensating the industry for 
the extra cost. Heck, opt-out will be the less efficient model - a while pile of 
government money will be thrown away installing connections to houses that don't want 
it and won't use it.

I'm not in favour of an opt-out model when the only reason for it is to artificially 
boost reported takeup rates as dodgy input statistics to boost OECD rankings.
If the government isn't happy with takeup rates then the right way to fix that is with 
better incentives, better services and better education and information campaigns so 
that people _want_ to tick the 'yes' box.

Paul.