Residents in the Australian state of Tasmania will be required to connect their homes to NBN under a new law proposed by the state government.
Tasmanian Premier Andrew Bartlett has announced he is preparing legislation that would make an NBN connection compulsory unless customers choose to opt out.
So far, only around half of homes in the first three towns passed during the rollout had been connected, he said.
“We’re determined to get that participation even higher, and ensure every Tasmanian householder and business that wants access to super-fast broadband can get it easily and efficiently.”
Bartlett said an “opt in” model had first been adopted because of legal issues about entering an owner's property without their consent. But the government had received advice that it had the authority to create opt-out legislation, he said.
“From the advice and research I’ve received, I’m now convinced that an opt-out model is the most practical and efficient way to ensure all Tasmanians can innovate and prosper in the new digital economy.”