A blunt message that rapid roll-out of broadband must become a high priority for New Zealand will be delivered at this week's Digital Cities and Regional Networks conference by Communications and IT Minister David Cunliffe.
The November 23 conference in Wellington is seen by organisers Next
Generation Internet (NGI-NZ) as providing an opportunity to kick-start
New Zealand's poor record on broadband uptake and the networks that
allow this to happen.
Mr
Cunliffe is a keynote speaker and says he will be calling New Zealand
towns and cities to action. He will outline how communities with
initiatives for broadband networks and IT provision can apply for
support from two new government funds totaling $44.7m, designed to
encourge more connections into the digital loop.
"New
Zealanders are dragging behind many other OECD nations on getting
connected to broadband. It's more than time for things to really
start to click," says Mr Cunliffe. "I will be outlining to the
conference just how crucial broadband networks are to our ambitions to
become a wealthier nation."
He describes the conference as a
perfectly-timed opportunity for community leaders to get up to speed on
how high-speed open access broadband networks can be established.
More
than 130 mayors, council managers, economic development representatives
and government officials have registered for the inaugural Digital
Cities & Regional Networks conference.
NGI-NZ chief executive Simon Riley says there is a revolution taking place in high-speed networking.
"Communities
in countries such as Sweden, Holland, Canada ,USA are funding and
building broadband infrastructure in the same way they do airports,
roads, and sewers.This is driven by the low cost of building optical
fibre high-speed broadband networks
"Evidence from overseas
is beginning to show that investments made in municipal fibre networks
have resulted in increased business productivity and better public
services."
Digital Cities & Regional Networks conference
speakers include community leaders from metro, provincial and rural New
Zealand communities and representatives from NZ community broadband
initiatives.
Officials from the Ministry of Economic
Development will outline how communities can apply for funding to
create or improve networks under the $24m Broadband Challenge fund and
the $20.7m Community Partnership Fund, aimed at grassroots IT
initiatives.
Expressions of interest for the first round of applications to the funds close on December 12.
Conference details and registration on-line at: http://www.digitalcities.org.nz
Or contact:
Simon Riley
Email: simon@netimpact.co.nz
021 2132050
Or conference coordinator
Brendon Burns
Email: brendonburns@xtra.co.nz
0274 305501
Note: Hon. David Cunliffe's speech to the Digital Cities & Regional Networks conference will be available to media the evening prior to delivery. He will be available for media interviews on broadband issues at the conference venue (Michael Fowler Centre) before delivery from around 9am. For interview times, please contact Julian Kersey DDI (04) 471 9116 email:julian.kersey@parliament.govt.nz
21 November 2005