MORE WEDDIN RESIDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR $1500 SUBSIDY
Published on 29 February 2024
MEDIA RELEASE(PDF, 537KB) | WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL
MORE WEDDIN RESIDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR $1500 SUBSIDY
More Weddin residents are set to benefit from the expansion of the Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) Satellite Internet Subsidy Program, with Stage Two opening on 1 March 2024. Stage Two of the program supports eligible residents who already have internet coverage via the LEO satellite internet network, and allows them to make a retrospective claim for subsidy. Residents may be more familiar with LEO Satellite Internet under its commercial name of Starlink.
From 1 March 2024, the program continues to accommodate eligible residents who purchase a new LEO satellite internet connection, in addition to now also supporting residents with an existing LEO satellite internet connection. Council understand many residents will have accessed this technology since it first become available in 2021, and that these people should not be excluded from the program for being early adopters.
The subsidy remains unchanged, all eligible residents can apply to the program and receive a subsidy of up to $1500, to cover costs associated with the satellite dish, hardware such as router, adapter, mounts and cables and associated installation costs. The program will end when the funds are exhausted, or 30 April 2024, whichever comes first.
Mayor Craig Bembrick stated “What an exciting opportunity for members of the Weddin Community to have the access to a fast and reliable internet service, supported by this program. Early adopters of the technology have described it as ‘life changing’ allowing them to work and study from home during the pandemic lockdowns. I am delighted that Council is now supporting more residents via the program”.
Stage One of the program which opened on 8 February 2024 has already supported several Weddin Shire residents to secure new LEO satellite connections “The majority of the Weddin Shire, outside of the town of Grenfell, is serviced by the NBN Satellite network. This network limits resident’s ability to capitalise on the opportunities that come from reliable high speed internet, including social, health and economic opportunities. This new program will help address the digital divide in our community” continued Mayor Bembrick.
The project guidelines, outlining eligibility criteria and the application form are available at https://www.weddin.nsw.gov.au/Council/Forms
For more information on the project, contact Weddin Shire Council’s Economic Development Officer Auburn Carr on 02 6343 1864 or auburn@weddin.nsw.gov.au
Noreen Vu
GENERAL MANAGER
29 FEBRUARY 2024
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