I am in an areea where there is poor or no mobile phone service. NBN not connected yet; however, as it is in the area, when the power goes off, which it does frequently, the landline doesn't work. I wrote state and federal MPs who couldn't explain why. Only after Cyclone Debbie went through and those in rural areas couldn't contact the SES was it explained about the NBN node and the landlines not working when the power and internet went down. So, what does a mid-70's couple do in an emergency?

Hey Newfie, you need a genie, a C.B and a handle! Got your ears on good buddy, 10/4.
Alan B.

The original government vision for the NBN was not FTTH. The coalition and ALP toyed with various mixes of wireless, copper cable and fiber. In 2007 I summarized the proposals as:

"Both 12 mbps ADSL to at least 98% of the population:

* ALP: FTTN ADSL to 98%, rest unspecified "improved
broadband services"
* Coalition: 99% with ADSL2+ and WiMax"

From: "Why Max? Demystifying Broadband options for Tasmania",
2007: http://www.tomw.net.au/technology/it/broadband/

In 2008 the Australian Government appointed a "National Broadband Network Panel of Experts" to select from the wireless, copper cable and fiber options. Much to everyone's surprise, the panel rejected ALL the proposals and recommended FTTH instead: http://ministers.treasury.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=pressreleases/2009/036.htm&pageID=003&min=wms&Year=&DocType

At the time I thought this was a good idea. But is wasn't. The community thought they were going to get cheap high speed broadband by fiber: they can't. Fiber is affordable for high density city areas and new greenfield suburbs. It is not affordable for old suburbs or sparsely populated remote locations. Mobile data will take much of the business, as I wrote in 2005: http://www.tomw.net.au/nt/networked.html#wires

Lets see; Labor gave $11b to the NBN's biggest competitors and then is surprised, Surprised, SURPRISED that it funds the roll-out of G5. G4 stymied NBN, G5 will kill it.

Just like failed renewables, a failed engineering / technical project designed by Arts degree incompetents.