The success of the National Broadband Network will be put under a microscope this week as a federal government committee investigates its rollout.
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Starting on Monday, a federal Joint Standing Committee will bring together Tasmanian businesses, councils, community members, unions, and healthcare providers to share their own NBN experiences.
The hearings will be held across the state, travelling to Hobart, Launceston, and Burnie to hear from stakeholders.
Witnesses will include TasICT chief executive William Kestin, Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union Tasmania secretary Trevor Gauld, Cradle Coast Authority chief executive Brent Smith, and several local councils.
Tasmanian Labor Senator Anne Urquhart and Tasmanian Labor MHR Brian Mitchell will sit on the committee alongside their federal counterparts.
Senator Urquhart said she was hoping to hear information that would eventually lead to improved outcomes for Tasmanians.
“Most of the witnesses that have come along have shown examples of where they’ve felt let down,” she said.
“We want to hear what the issues are so that as a committee, we’re able to make recommendations in a report to the federal government to make sure that we try and make those things right for people.”
Mr Mitchell said the NBN needed to be fit for purpose, but said regional communities were beginning to lag behind cities.
“What we’re seeing in Tasmania is a growing digital divide, so if you live in a big city you get pretty good internet, if you live in a regional town, you get poor internet,” he said.
“These hearings are vital and the amount of testimony we’ve heard across the country shows how important they are.
“If these hearings weren’t being held, a lot of this information would be held in secret.”
The NBN committee will report annually until the network is declared built and fully operational, looking at the utilisation of the NBN in both metropolitan and regional areas, Australia's comparative global position, and NBN activation rates, user demand, usage patterns and trends.
Hearings will be held in Hobart on Monday, Launceston on Tuesday, and Burnie on Wednesday.