Katter talks down any plan to cut fixed phone lines

CHRIS CALCINO

State leader Robbie Katter has demanded the Federal Government reject recommendations from the Productivity Commission and National Audit Office to scrap the universal service obligation and replace it with “services delivered on a commercial basis”.

“North Queenslanders already deal with substandard and unreliable mobile phone and satellite voice coverage which are often further impacted by weather conditions, power outages and other issues,” he said.

“Currently, standard fixed line services are the only reliable from of telecommunication available to many remote communities.”

Telstra estimates there are more than 600,000 homes, farms, businesses and indigenous communities across Australia where it is not commercially viable to deliver communications services.

They are only provided because the universal service ob- ligation makes it mandatory to do so.

“Cutting fixed line communications will have a negative impact on school kids undertaking long distance education or based in remote locations,’’ Mr Katter said.