The Government of South Australia invites your community to consider submitting an Expression of Interest in co-funding a mobile black spot as part of the Commonwealth’s Mobile Black Spot Program Round 5.
Round five of the Commonwealth Black Spot Program (MBSP) is now open with $80 million available across the country. The State Government will contribute a further $3 million towards local black spots from the $10 million South Australian Mobile Phone Black Spot fund.
In order to enhance South Australia’s chances of success within the Commonwealth’s program, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia (PIRSA) want you to partner with them and the telecommunication companies who will submit applications to the MBSP.
Communities are encouraged to work together to have multiple financial contributors, and nominate a lead to submit their Expression of Interest to PIRSA.RegionsSA@sa.gov.au no later than 5pm on Friday 7 June 2019.
To participate in this opportunity, communities will need to address the following criteria in their Expression of Interest:
- Demonstration of how the site will support regional economic growth
- A minimum community contribution of $50,000
- Outline who will contribute funding and how much
- An outline of what the coverage objective is, including a preferred location
- Be able to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding and if successful, a funding deed.
Once the period for Expressions of Interest has closed, the coverage suggestions will be considered against the Commonwealth Guidelines. Where the proposal aligns with the Guidelines, the State and telecommunication company (Telco) will engage with communities regarding solutions for their area in mid-June. By early July evidence of the funding commitment will need to be provided to enable the preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Telco. If successful the Telco will enter into a funding deed with the lead applicant.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Tim Whetstone said there are around 500 mobile black spots registered across regional South Australia and the Mobile Phone Black Spot Program is of vital importance to our regional communities.
“Telecommunications provides vital infrastructure to enable businesses in regional communities to reach their customers, and the clear messages coming out of the federal program about targeting the fund to deliver economic outcomes should benefit South Australia.
“Our regions contribute around $25 billion a year to the state’s economy, and connectivity is essential to driving our regions’ and our state’s growth and success.”
View the Commonwealth’s Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions about the Government of South Australia’s process please email PIRSA at PIRSA.RegionsSA@sa.gov.au