In hesitating to follow Tasmania's lead in legislating for all homes to be connected to the National Broadband Network, NSW and Victoria may induce the federal government to conduct a review of the NBN's rollout schedule.

When Tasmania Premier David Bartlett announced legislation that will change the the NBN connection procedure from an opt-in to an opt-out system, concerns surfaced about the fact that only 50 percent of the Apple Isle's premises are connected to the new fibre network. According to the government's implementation study on the NBN's viability, this may require a review that will correct the network's connection deficiencies and scale down the its mandate of connecting 93 percent of the country to its network.

Stephen Conroy, Communications Minister, said that the opt-out model "will enable faster and more efficient roll-out of the network and minimise inconvenience to landowners," and has supported Tasmania's initiative. Other states and territories, however, have yet to follow suit. NSW and Victoria in particular have have no plans to legislate for an opt-out system.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy supports Tasmania's moves to legislate an opt-out method for connection to the NBN, saying that it "will enable faster and more efficient roll-out of the network and minimise inconvenience to landowners", and has encouraged the other states and territories to follow Tasmania's suit. But so far, his calls have fallen on deaf ears.

The NSW government has ruled out any plans to legislate an opt-out model and so too has Victoria. According to a spokesperson for Victorian Treasurer and ICT Minister John Landers, "Our intention is for every Victorian home to be connected to the NBN but individuals would be able to choose whether or not to sign up and use the service."

Queensland Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten's spokesman said the government hasn't decided on the matter as yet. "We are contacting Tasmania today about their legislation but we have not made a decision about it," the spokesman said.

NBN hasn't released the numbers on how many have opted in on its first-release sites on the mainland, which include Brunswick, Townsville, Willunga, Kiama and Armidale.

With the response more lukewarm than NBN desired, the company now extends its deadlines for the return of consent forms.

But take-up has not been what the NBN Co hoped, with the company being forced to extend the deadlines for the return of consent forms from August 31 to October 8, 2010.