December 17, 2013
Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss has invited feedback from local communities about the Federal Government’s new $100 million regional mobile coverage program.
The program aims to improve mobile telephone coverage in under-serviced areas.
“The program will have two components, an $80 million Mobile Network Expansion Project to improve coverage along major transport routes, in small communities and in disaster-prone areas, and a $20 million Mobile Black Spot Project to improve mobile coverage in locations with unique coverage problems,” Mr Truss said.
“Inadequate mobile phone coverage is a significant concern for regional communities. Lives can depend on being able to access mobile phone networks in emergencies, so these upgrades are of real importance to these communities.”
Mr Truss said he had long campaigned for the extension of the mobile phone network to known blackspots in his electorate, including Widgee and along the Wide Bay Highway, particularly between Gympie and Kilkivan, Kilkivan and Goomeri and Goomeri and Murgon.
“I strongly urge people in mobile phone black spot areas to engage in the discussion paper process,” Mr Truss said.
A discussion paper on the new scheme is available from the Department of Communications’ website
The closing date for submissions is 5:00pm on February 28, 2014.
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