NBN Co reaches out to first-release residents

 

Free fibre offer - but no guarantees.

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Armidale (click to enlarge) - The highlighted area indicates the streets that will be covered by ...
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Brunswick (click to enlarge) - Melbourne's famous Lygon Street runs along the border of those ...
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Kiama/Minnamurra (clieck to enlarge) - The recently developed Kiama Downs and Minnamurra, on NSW ...

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Residents in two of the first five mainland test sites for the national broadband network will this week receive letters from NBN Co offering free connections from their homes to the network.

NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley said today that residents of Kiama Downs and Minnamurra in NSW and Willunga in South Australia would receive a letter and "consent form" [PDF] next week.

The form had to be returned by the end of August to qualify the resident for a "free standard optical fibre installation from the street to their premises."

However, accepting the offer did not guarantee free fibre infrastructure.

One of the terms and conditions of the consent form stated: "I understand that in some circumstances it may not be possible to do a standard free installation at my premises, even if I have accepted this offer."

NBN Co also said an installation fee "may apply" if residents didn't return forms by August 31.

"By signing this consent form, you don't have to cancel your existing phone or internet service," Quigley said.

"It simply gives you a chance to prepare your premises for the opportunity to be part of the NBN at a time of your choosing once the network goes live."

Work on the sites was expected to commence shortly.


"Correct, @ITnovice. If your house has a copper phone line you can leave it in place. The plan is that PSTN service at an exchange will not be turned of until all its customers are migrated to ..."
By umbria
 
 
 
Comments: 3
NASA
Jul 26, 2010 2:24 PM
Didn't we all pay for this fibre network already? As taxpayers?
It is supposed to be FTTH - fibre to the HOME! They should be connecting everyone as part of the $43 Billion + project's cost. What is going on here?!
ITnovice
Jul 26, 2010 6:45 PM
"By signing this consent form, you don't have to cancel your existing phone or internet service," Quigley said.

So does this mean that homes may not yet have to disconnect their current phone lines to have fibre connected but not activated on their property?
umbria
Jul 27, 2010 12:19 AM
Correct, @ITnovice. If your house has a copper phone line you can leave it in place. The plan is that PSTN service at an exchange will not be turned of until all its customers are migrated to fibre. But once you get a taste of fibre you won't want your copper any more.
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