By MATT NICHOLLS
ARMIDALE Dumaresq Council will write to Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull in a bid to win more time for the National Broadband Network rollout.
The motion at Monday night’s general council meeting came on the back of NBN Co’s statement that the copper network in Armidale would be switched off on 23 May.
Councillors unanimously voted to write to Mr Turnbull and urge him to extend funding to Armidale’s Digital Hub for a further 12 months to assist consumers in managing the decommissioning of copper and the upgrade to fibre optics.
Home and business owners in parts of Armidale were last week told by NBN Co they had less than six months to make the switch to the NBN.
Nearly 2500 premises in the disconnection area have made the switch and NBN Co has urged the remaining premises to follow their lead.
“To avoid getting stuck in the last-minute rush, which could mean you end up not having your home phone and internet services working, we’d encourage you to make the switch today,” NBN Co spokesperson Darren Rudd said.
Home and business owners who live or work in and around The Avenue, Allingham Street, Gordon Street and Trevethin Road have just over six months until NBN’s new infrastructure will replace the existing landline phone, ADSL internet and Telstra cable internet services when these services are switched off on 23 May.
“It’s important to make the switch as these existing services will no longer work after May next year,” Mr Rudd said.
“Even residents who don’t use the internet will still need to switch to the NBN if they want to keep using their home phone.
“This includes community members with special equipment, such as medical and security alarms which are connected to the home phone line.
“All you need to do is get in contact with your preferred phone or internet company.”
