Friday, September 15, 2006
Schools feel bullied as Telstra raises line rental
ABC NEWS ONLINE
Telstra has been accused of bullying public schools by increasing line rental fees for schools that use other phone companies services.
The telco has defended the move, saying its shareholders are suffering.
Telstra has confirmed it is no longer offering a discount on line rental rates for schools that do not use Telstra to make their calls.
The chairwoman of the Public Schools Principals Forum, Cheryl McBride, says her school feels bullied.
"We swapped over to Optus and so our line rental actually doubled," she said.
Telstra spokesman Warwick Ponder says it offered reduced line rental rates of $19 a month to public schools, but schools whose business goes to other companies now have to pay $35 a month.
"We simply can't subsidise competition in this way, Telstra shareholders won't cop it," he said.
He says the school have chosen to take their business to another carrier.
"We're happy to give them subsidised rates if they're doing their business through Telstra but Telstra isn't a government department.
"We don't need to be in the business of subsidising competition - we're a business like any other business.
"We need to be on a level-playing field with some of these overseas companies."
Mr Ponder says Telstra is happy to talk with individual schools about their needs.
New South Wales Opposition Leader Peter Debnam says Telstra's stance is unacceptable.
NSW Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt also says it is unfair and she will be asking the Federal Government to intervene.
"The Department's written to Telstra urging the company to continue with the existing line rental rate , so we'll see what Telstra's response is to that," she said.
"But I'd also like to see the Federal Government step in - they're the majority shareholder of Telstra.
"They should make sure that public schools get the best possible deal and that Telstra's not taking advantage of public schools."
Telstra has been accused of bullying public schools by increasing line rental fees for schools that use other phone companies services.
The telco has defended the move, saying its shareholders are suffering.
Telstra has confirmed it is no longer offering a discount on line rental rates for schools that do not use Telstra to make their calls.
The chairwoman of the Public Schools Principals Forum, Cheryl McBride, says her school feels bullied.
"We swapped over to Optus and so our line rental actually doubled," she said.
Telstra spokesman Warwick Ponder says it offered reduced line rental rates of $19 a month to public schools, but schools whose business goes to other companies now have to pay $35 a month.
"We simply can't subsidise competition in this way, Telstra shareholders won't cop it," he said.
He says the school have chosen to take their business to another carrier.
"We're happy to give them subsidised rates if they're doing their business through Telstra but Telstra isn't a government department.
"We don't need to be in the business of subsidising competition - we're a business like any other business.
"We need to be on a level-playing field with some of these overseas companies."
Mr Ponder says Telstra is happy to talk with individual schools about their needs.
New South Wales Opposition Leader Peter Debnam says Telstra's stance is unacceptable.
NSW Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt also says it is unfair and she will be asking the Federal Government to intervene.
"The Department's written to Telstra urging the company to continue with the existing line rental rate , so we'll see what Telstra's response is to that," she said.
"But I'd also like to see the Federal Government step in - they're the majority shareholder of Telstra.
"They should make sure that public schools get the best possible deal and that Telstra's not taking advantage of public schools."
Councils Plans
I have to congratulate Port Macquarie Hastings Council on their realization that broadband is an essential piece of infrastructure. Cr Rob Drew said that “Broadband should be seen as a basic infrastructure like roads, water and sewerage - and regarded in a similar manner as a basic phone line." Quite true, I know several “tree changers” who honestly decided on their house purchase on the criteria that it could get high speed broadband.
Broadband infrastructure brings jobs, decentralization of large businesses, the breaking down of country / city barriers and many more opportunities. Council claims it has come up with a plan that could be replicated throughout the country. Having just come back from a inland NSW trip I can see why PMHC’s plan is important to improving country life. With a share holder, profit making and minimalist customer service orientated telco market it is falling more and more on the shoulders of local government to provide basic services and this expansion into the telecommunications field is a welcome one.
With voice over IP & broadband services independent of the Telstra wholesale infrastructure the council has the abilities to offer a full communications service as well as reduce its own costs should this plan go ahead.
PMHC is often criticized for its lack of understanding of the needs of rate payers, lack of foresight when it comes to infrastructure (namely the cultural centre) and sometimes the standard of basic infrastructure like roads, water supply, drainage and sewerage. I can honestly say after driving through inland NSW we have pretty good infrastructure.
However, this brilliant insight into broadband infrastructure should bring jobs, improved socio-economic factors for our area and dare I say it in combination with the cultural and arts centre the grounds, platform and abilities for a digital art, digital music and specialist video festivals to set up in Port Macquarie.
Broadband infrastructure brings jobs, decentralization of large businesses, the breaking down of country / city barriers and many more opportunities. Council claims it has come up with a plan that could be replicated throughout the country. Having just come back from a inland NSW trip I can see why PMHC’s plan is important to improving country life. With a share holder, profit making and minimalist customer service orientated telco market it is falling more and more on the shoulders of local government to provide basic services and this expansion into the telecommunications field is a welcome one.
With voice over IP & broadband services independent of the Telstra wholesale infrastructure the council has the abilities to offer a full communications service as well as reduce its own costs should this plan go ahead.
PMHC is often criticized for its lack of understanding of the needs of rate payers, lack of foresight when it comes to infrastructure (namely the cultural centre) and sometimes the standard of basic infrastructure like roads, water supply, drainage and sewerage. I can honestly say after driving through inland NSW we have pretty good infrastructure.
However, this brilliant insight into broadband infrastructure should bring jobs, improved socio-economic factors for our area and dare I say it in combination with the cultural and arts centre the grounds, platform and abilities for a digital art, digital music and specialist video festivals to set up in Port Macquarie.
Hastings Council meets with federal communications minister!
On Wednesday 13 September 2006the Federal Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, will meet with Mayor, Councillor Rob Drew and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's General Manager Mr Bernard Smith to discuss the region's recent submission to the Broadband Connect funding program.
"This meeting is integral to further promoting the importance of broadband to our community and its impact on future development," explained Mayor, Councillor Drew.
The funding submission, delivered in August 2006, outlined a community approach to delivering broadband to the community.
"There can be no argument that broadband is critical to the economic health of regional centers," said Councillor Drew. "High-quality broadband access is critical in enabling us to build a knowledge-based community. As well as providing for the needs of current business and residents, broadband services are a large part of promoting our region to investors and new homeowners. Broadband should be seen as a basic infrastructure like roads, water and sewerage - and regarded in a similar manner as a basic phone line."
The broadband funding submission included a community broadband plan which could be replicated throughout the country, and Council believes the plan could be used as a showcase for other regions that recognise the need for high-speed broadband access.
Original doccument on Hastings Councils Website http://www.pmhc.nsw.gov.au
"This meeting is integral to further promoting the importance of broadband to our community and its impact on future development," explained Mayor, Councillor Drew.
The funding submission, delivered in August 2006, outlined a community approach to delivering broadband to the community.
"There can be no argument that broadband is critical to the economic health of regional centers," said Councillor Drew. "High-quality broadband access is critical in enabling us to build a knowledge-based community. As well as providing for the needs of current business and residents, broadband services are a large part of promoting our region to investors and new homeowners. Broadband should be seen as a basic infrastructure like roads, water and sewerage - and regarded in a similar manner as a basic phone line."
The broadband funding submission included a community broadband plan which could be replicated throughout the country, and Council believes the plan could be used as a showcase for other regions that recognise the need for high-speed broadband access.
Original doccument on Hastings Councils Website http://www.pmhc.nsw.gov.au
