Communications Minister Mr. Stephen Conroy has urged Australian territories and states to hasten the implementation of the national broadband network (NBN) to properly interconnect the whole of Australia.

Mr. Conroy said that he would hope to get the full support and cooperation of the other state leaders with this project.

He, however, would not hesitate to use the force of the federal law to make this mandatory if states and territories do not make connections mandatory in their regions.

He said in a report of the Sydney Morning Herald: "We are working our way through the issues with the states and ... we ultimately would consider, if we can't reach settlement, mandating it through the Federal Parliament. But we prefer to be engaged with the states.

Mr. Conroy said that it has been more than a year that discussions have been conducted with the states and territory leaders regarding this matter.

He announced on his website of 19 new sites for the next stage of its rollout of fibre to the premises on mainland Australia as part of the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Mr. Conroy said the second release sites would build on the work NBN Co was doing in the five first release sites.

"The rollout of fibre to the premise will deliver speeds of up to 100 Mbps, 50 times faster than most people experience today," he said.

These second release sites comprise 14 new locations, and five sites adjacent to the existing first release sites. The second release sites are:

Victoria - Bacchus Marsh, South Morang (Melbourne)

Queensland - Brisbane (inner north), Springfield Lakes, Toowoomba.

NSW - Riverstone (Western Sydney), Coffs Harbour

South Australia - Modbury, Prospect

Western Australia - Victoria Park (Perth), Geraldton, Mandurah

Northern Territory - Casuarina

ACT - Gungahlin

Five existing locations to receive an additional rollout site are Minnamurra/Kiama Downs and Armidale in NSW, Townville in Qld, Brunswick in Melbourne, Victoria and Willunga in South Australia. As the entire township of Willunga is already part of the rollout, the nearby communities of Seaford / McLaren Vale will be the adjacent site.

"As with the five first release sites, NBN Co has chosen the second release sites based on a range of engineering, network design and logistical criteria."

Each site will see the network rolled out past approximately 3,000 premises. The exact areas to be covered within these locations will be determined by NBN Co after further consultation with local authorities.

"NBN Co's consultation with local authorities in the delivery of these sites is further evidence of the importance it places on taking a cooperative approach to the rollout."

Construction in the second release locations is scheduled for the second quarter of 2011.

"Ultimately, the NBN will provide all premises in Australia with affordable, high speed broadband, no matter where they are located."

Senator Conroy said today's announcement builds on the significant work already underway in the delivery of the NBN.

"The Government has already prioritised the rollout in Tasmania and I will be visiting that State in the coming fortnight to celebrate the first customers receiving NBN services in Australia," Senator Conroy said.

"Work on the NBN Regional Backbone Blackspots Program is progressing well with over 1,100 km's of the 6,000 km's of backbone fibre already rolled out.

"Last week, Melbourne was announced as the location for the NBN Network Operations Centre, which is expected to be up and running by the end of the year.

"There is no doubt communities across Australia are crying out for faster, more affordable broadband and we are delivering this as quickly as possible.

"Today is another important step in the delivery of the NBN to all Australian homes, businesses, schools and hospitals."

For more information on the first release sites, including maps, visit: www.nbnco.com.au