Bacchus Marsh has won concessions from the company rolling out the national broadband network in a bid to avoid confusion when the town’s old phone system is switched off.
Moorabool mayor Paul Tatchell said the council had been assured by NBN Co that the company would contact each resident personally before any were disconnected.
“They have said they will call everyone who hasn’t switched over [to digital] before they switch them off,” Cr Tatchell said.
“If they don’t get them on the phone then they’ll door-knock so no one will get cut off without being warned.”
Confusion and disconnections in Brunswick, one of the first areas in Victoria to be connected to the network, had prompted “massive concerns”, according to Cr Tatchell.
As a result, Moorabool shire ramped up its own education program, informing residents and businesses how to prepare for the changeover.
“We explained to the residents that it’s like a hot and cold tap and that even if you don’t want the NBN, you’ve still got to get a new plumbing system,” he said.
“You can’t just continue on and think your phone will work after that date.”
A little understood point about the changeover is that individual households are not hooked up to the broadband network automatically.
Once residents find out the new system is available in their area, it is up to them to organise connection by choosing a phone and internet plan with a retail service provider.
North-East ward councillor Sue Bolton said not enough was being done to inform people about the cut-off date.
“Certainly, I don’t remember seeing anything in the media, including the local media, about it,” she said.
Bacchus Marsh is one of seven communities about to reach the final stage of NBN transition and is the first regional area in the state to be connected to the super-fast digital network.
The final stage of transition to the new broadband network occurs 18 months after the company designates an area as ready for customers.
At that point, all residents are expected to be on the NBN network and existing analogue phone services are shut off.
