Unsightly overhead cables

Those of us with long memories will recall the battles between local councils and the pay TV industry when thick cables started appearing in leafy suburban streets. Now some councils are concerned that they may be getting a re-run as part of the National Broadbank Network initiative of the Australian government. Not so, according to the Federal Minister, who dismissed concerns raised by the coalition that most of the national broadband network (NBN) cables will be hung overhead rather than buried in the ground as a way to reduce costs.

Opposition communications spokesman and Senator Nick Minchin yesterday warned that the current overhead cables which are unpleasant to look at will be rolled out across the country to provide a more cost-effective NBN. He warned that local and State planning rules would be bypassed. "Underground cables are the clear preference of councils and residents across the country, yet hundreds of kilometers of aerial cables are set to be rolled out under Labor's broadband plan, disregarding the wishes of residents and councils, " he said in a statement.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy raised the option of aerial cabling during question time. He said that the fiber optics will be replaced underground wherever possible and cost effective. "In most other cases aerial cabling might prove to be a faster and more cost effective method." But Senator Conroy has pointed out the fact that a decision has not been made about the ratio of overhead compared to underground cables as part of the NBN rollout.