The RGA is a member of the RRRCC, which was formed in 2016, and is an alliance of 21 organisations.
The priorities of the RRRCC are to raise
awareness about the important role of connectivity for regional Australians, and to ensure their voices are heard.
Our Goals are:
1. Guaranteed access
to voice and data services
2. Equitable voice
and data services that meet minimum standards and reliability
3. Continued program
to expand mobile coverage
4. Digital capacity
building for regional, rural and remote Australia
5. Affordable
communications services for regional, rural and remote Australia
The Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is currently undertaking a review of the
effectiveness of the Measuring Broadband Australia (MBA) program and have
approached RRRCC for feedback.
The
RRRCC are supportive of the program and are working on a submission calling for the program to be
extended to fixed wireless and satellite services under Goal 2 of our
RRRCC goals document.
Earlier this week the Department
of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications released their consultation on draft grant
opportunity guidelines for Round 5A of the Mobile Black Spot Program.
The draft guidelines outline the eligibility criteria for applicants
and activities under the round, the proposed assessment criteria, and the
process for prospective applications. Feedback provided will inform the final
Funding Guidelines.
The
RRRCC provided comment into the discussion paper on design options for Round 5A of the
Mobile Black Spot Programand will be reviewing the draft guidelines in detail, should they warrant a further submission.