JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

THE HON MICHELLE ROWLAND MP, MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS

THE HON SHAYNE NEUMANN MP, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BLAIR

Applications have opened for Mobile Black Spot and Regional Connectivity proposals, reaffirming the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment to improve communications in regional, rural, remote and First Nations communities.

This is a combined grant opportunity, bringing together the Mobile Black Spot Program (MBSP) and the Regional Connectivity Program (RCP) in two streams, and providing dedicated First Nations funding:

• The $50 million Mobile Black Spot (Round 7) stream will provide grant funding to Mobile Network Operators and infrastructure providers to deliver new handheld mobile coverage to rural, regional and remote locations across Australia.
  
  
• The $100 million Regional Connectivity (Round 3) stream will provide grant funding to projects that provide place-based new or improved broadband services and/or improved mobile services in eligible locations across Australia.
  
  
• Both streams include dedicated funding for solutions to improve telecommunications infrastructure in First Nations communities. $22.5 million is identified in this round to support solutions that contribute towards achieving Target 17 of the Closing the Gap initiative, which aims to ensure First Nations people have equal levels of digital inclusion by 2026.

Locals and businesses in Blair are encouraged to work together with local councils, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other interested parties to develop multi-MNO solutions, including solutions that use active sharing technologies.

This opportunity is part of the Albanese Government’s Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia which is providing more than $1.1 billion to rural and regional communities, including $656 million to improve mobile and broadband connectivity and resilience in rural and regional Australia.

Local residents who would like to report a mobile black spot in our community should contact Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann by phone on (07) 3201 5300 or email at Shayne.Neumann.MP@aph.gov.au  

Applications for this combined grant opportunity close on 31 May 2023. To apply, visit grants.gov.au

For more information on the MBSP, visit infrastructure.gov.au/mbsp

For more information on the RCP, visit infrastructure.gov.au/rcp

For more information on the Better Connectivity Plan, visit infrastructure.gov.au/bcp

Federal Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland said Australians deserved world class connectivity, no matter where they live or work.

 “The Mobile Black Spot and Regional Connectivity grants are designed to help those living and working in rural, regional and remote communities, helping them stay in touch with loved ones, run businesses efficiently and stay connected during emergencies.

“I encourage all stakeholders and community members to work together on this combined grant opportunity so we can deliver funding to the areas most in need.

“I thank those stakeholders who provided feedback on this two-stream approach throughout the December-February consultation period. These guidelines reflect the opportunity to deliver more certainty for interested parties as they will be able to consider the full range of connectivity solutions simultaneously.”

Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said the Mobile Black Spot Program was a great opportunity for locals and businesses in his electorate to work together to identify projects that would help people who live and work in, and travel to, the region, particularly those in rural Ipswich and the Somerset.

“I’m proud to belong to a government that is improving connectivity in rural and regional Australia, including country areas in Blair and surrounds, like the Lockyer Valley.

“We have also boosted our commitment to narrowing the digital divide for First Nations Australians by providing an additional $10 million in funding to the latest round of the Regional Connectivity Program.

“I encourage locals to work with councils, Mobile Network Operators and my office to identify black spots before submissions close on 31 May 2023.”