Tuesday, 11th March 2008 - ACS National President, Kumar Parakala today welcomed the appointment of Professor Reginald Paul Coutts, ACS Telecommunications Board Director, to the Broadband Panel of Experts established by the Hon. Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

Mr Parakala congratulated Professor Coutts on his appointment to the Panel and said his depth of expertise in the telecommunications field will be of great benefit to the Panel of Experts and its role in delivering key services to all Australians and helping to secure Australia’s place as a leading player in the global digital economy.

“Professor Coutts is one of Australia’s most knowledgeable telecommunications experts with an extensive career working in the industry and the tertiary sector. His vast experience has been of great assistance to the Australian Computer Society in the past few years,” said Mr Parakala.

“The ACS congratulates Professor Coutts on this well deserved appointment to the Federal Government’s Panel of Experts. We are delighted that his skills have been acknowledged on a Federal level. Australia cannot compete globally without high speed broadband infrastructure. We also believe that beyond the infrastructure, there is urgent need for a focus on value added services – or what’s beyond the ‘pipe’ and how these services can form part of the offering that powers our future national prosperity,” said Mr Parakala.

Professor Reg Coutts said, “I am truly honoured to be appointed to the Panel and I am eager to commence in the role, so we can discuss what is at the centre of Australia’s future commercial well being and survival. If Australia is to truly have a digital economy we must ensure that rural Australia is delivered state of the art broadband technology and services - this is an area that I am keen to focus on. Broadband will also continue to catalyse the emergence of a whole new range of products and services. There are many issues that need to be addressed, however I am confident that together with other Panel members and under the leadership of Minister Stephen Conroy and Secretary Patricia Scott, that we will ensure that Australia’s infrastructure will allow our nation to continue to grow and provide consumers and businesses with an opportunity to interact on the world’s stage”, said Professor Coutts.

Professor Coutts has over 30 years experience in the Telecommunication sector. He was Professor of Telecommunications of the University of Adelaide (now Emeritus) and currently runs the consultancy company Coutts Communications. Prior to joining the University, Professor Coutts spent 18 years with Telstra. He is a Fellow of the ACS, Director of the ACS Telecommunications Board, Chairman of the ACS in SA and is also Chairman of the Telecommunication Society Of Australia (TSA)

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About the ACS:
The ACS (Australian Computer Society) is the recognised professional association for those working in Information and Communications Technology, seeking to raise the standing of ICT professionals and represent their views to government, industry and the community. A member of the Australian Council of Professions, the ACS is the guardian of professional ethics and standards in the ICT sector, committed to ensuring the beneficial use of ICT for all Australians. It provides both members and non-members with opportunities for professional education, networking and certification, as well as enabling them to contribute to the development of their profession. Visit www.acs.org.au for more.

About the ACS Foundation:
An initiative of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) the ACS Foundation was established in August 2001 to encourage both private and public sponsorship of ICT scholarships, higher education and research projects.

The ACS Foundation receives funding from more than 200 sponsors – including ICT companies, industry associations, Government bodies, individuals and the ACS itself.

Since the ACS Foundation’s inception, it has raised over $12 million in cash and in-kind sponsorship for scholarships and research, awarding more than 650 scholarships to high achievers and people who are disadvantaged in some way.