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Broadband – Analysis and Comment

Communities across the U.S. are taking network construction into their own hands. T.Dallas/Shutterstock.com

Cities and states take up the battle for an open internet

A recent federal court ruling lets big telecom companies censor the internet in ways that boost their own profits – but also allows local and state governments to outlaw censorship if they wish.
The NBN is on the path to being privatised after construction finishes. AAP

What should be done with the NBN in the long run?

The NBN is on track to be privatised after the infrastructure is completed, but there are a number of other options that would retain the benefits of its disruption of the telecommunications market.
Telecommunications wires stretch along a rural Kansas road. Technology & Information Policy Institute, University of Texas

Reaching rural America with broadband internet service

Many people in rural America don’t have access to fast, affordable internet access. How might those communities connect to the global exchange of goods, services and ideas?
FirstNet could relieve emergency workers of having to carry multiple radios and other communications devices. AP Photo/Ric Francis

FirstNet for emergency communications: 6 questions answered

A multibillion-dollar effort is just beginning to build an all-new nationwide wireless broadband network for emergency responders. How will it work, why do we need it and how will it last 25 years?
Is America’s digital economy facing a stormy future? Filipe Frazao/Shutterstock.com

Is America’s digital leadership on the wane?

The digital economy in the US is already on the verge of stalling; failing to protect an open internet would further erode the United States’ digital competitiveness.
Some Americans have fast internet, but many still lag behind – especially in rural areas. BlueRingMedia via shutterstock.com

Will Trump and the FCC heal or worsen America’s digital divide?

The Trump administration’s proposed budget suggests it will continue to spend federal dollars on expanding broadband internet access. But the rules governing internet traffic matter too.
The national broadband network promised by the incoming Rudd government was politicised from the start. Lukas Coch/AAP

The NBN: how a national infrastructure dream fell short

The highly politicised nature of the NBN has led to a lack of transparency that makes it even harder to fix the mess that has been made of this vital national infrastructure.
How many people are trying to connect America’s cities? Network workers via shutterstock.com

America’s broadband market needs more competition

World-class fiber-based internet service is available in less than a quarter of Los Angeles County. By contrast, it’s almost ubiquitous in Stockholm and Paris.
Bailey Brooks, who lives on her family’s station 400km south of Alice Springs, won nbn Co’s national drawing competition with an illustration of the SkyMuster satellite. But is the satellite enough for her family? AAP/nbn Co

Regional Australia is crying out for equitable access to broadband

A new coalition of bodies representing regional Australia is calling on the government to help guarantee better access to the internet and the networked economy.
The FCC has the power to save us from slow, expensive internet service. Snail and cable via shutterstock.com

Achieving universal broadband: What the FCC can and cannot do

The Federal Communications Commission has broad power to support fast, affordable internet service reaching every home in the U.S. What are its limits – and its possibilities?
Australia’s is spending billions of dollars a national infrastructure ‘that just about meets demand today’. Shutterstock/Dario Lo Presti

The need for speed: there’s still time to fix Australia’s NBN

It is not too late to change the current direction of Australia’s NBN from one that just meets today’s demands, to one that we need for the future.
The court ruling will keep all internet traffic treated equally. Laptop with arrows via shutterstock.com

Appeals court upholds net neutrality rules – why you should care

If you like binge-watching Netflix, streaming audio or online gaming, then you should be celebrating this week. And if your business depends on reaching a wide audience online, you should join in.
Shadow Communications Minister Jason Clare (left) and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (right). AAP/Mick Tsikas

How do Labor and the Coalition differ on NBN policy?

Now the ALP has released its much-anticipated National Broadband Network policy, it gives voters a chance to see how the Coalition and the Opposition’s plans compare.