RURAL and regional families and businesses have been warned they could miss out on vital broadband and mobile reception improvements unless they alerted the Victorian Government to problems.
Rural Councils Victoria chair Mary-Ann Brown said communities had until September 20 to have their say on mobile and broadband problems
“It is vital for families, communities, jobs, education and businesses that rural and regional areas get the broadband services they need,” Cr Brown said.
In June, the Victorian Government announced a survey as part of its $550 million Connecting Victoria program, asking Victorians to identify where mobile and broadband were most needed.
Cr Brown said there were concerns that rural and regional Victorians didn’t know about the survey or were unable to complete it.
“It is not lost on us that this is an internet survey and rural and regional Victorians need a good internet connection to inform government that they have substandard internet service,” she said.
“Even in lockdown, we must do the best we can, even if it means phoning a friend with better internet services to ask for their help filling in the survey.
“Broadband services are even more important than they were just 18 months ago.
“The pandemic has seen a surge in Melburnians moving to rural and regional Victoria.
“Lockdowns mean that workers need good broadband so they can work from home and children are being educated over the internet.”
Cr Brown feared that without taking part in the survey there was a danger that some of the worst-affected communities wouldn’t get the service they urgently needed.
“Quality mobile phone connectivity and broadband are essential for small businesses, education, families, emergency services and visitor economies to thrive,” she said.
“Far too many parts of rural Victoria still lack effective mobile phone access and broadband, cutting entire communities off from an essential service that most Victorians living in cities take for granted.
“In an emergency, this lack of mobile coverage can put lives at risk.”
The survey can be completed at engage.vic.gov.au/connecting-victoria.
