August 13, 2013
Regional communities will be able to apply for funds to fix local mobile phone black spots, as part of a $100 million Federal Coalition commitment, Federal Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd said today.
Mr O’Dowd said communities in the Proston and Boondooma areas would be able to seek funding assistance to build new towers and upgrade mobile services if a Coalition Government was elected.
“The policy will improve mobile coverage in small towns, along key transport routes, and in areas prone to natural disasters.
“Communities will also be able to apply for funding to address identified local mobile communication priorities, such as areas with high seasonal demand or areas where poor mobile coverage poses a significant risk to public safety,” he said.
Mr O’Dowd said the Coalition’s Mobile Phone Black Spot program would also allow mobile phone network providers to seek funding assistance to upgrade coverage in black spot areas.
“A Coalition government will fund up to 50 per cent of the cost of deploying mobile black-spot solutions and will seek to maximise the contribution of mobile phone network providers and third parties,” Mr O’Dowd said.
