The recent announcement that seven towns in Tasmania will receive the next wave of the National Broadband Network (NBN) has been met with a mixed reaction. Most are either small rural or regional towns, such as Deloraine, St Helens and Triabunna, or on the fringes of Hobart, such as Kingston Beach and Sorell. Some business groups have attacked the latest National Broadband Network rollout arguing it ignores the State’s main cities.
Of course, it is frustrating that the rollout bypasses the key population and business centres of Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie, where take up of high speed Internet would be greater. On one level, it makes perfect sense to do the larger centres first. However, the argument is not clear cut.
Local Government FOCUS agrees with Alana Johnson, Victorian Rural Women of the Year for 2010, who stated recently on the ABC’s Q & A that ‘broadband is the lifeblood of regional and rural Australia and we really do need it’.
One of the fastest growing sectors of the economy in Australia is online business and if the government can encourage people to relocate to regional and rural areas, it makes perfect sense to concentrate on smaller areas first.
According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, capital cities are growing rapidly and demands for services are escalating. Alongside this we also have entrenched problems with unemployment in regional and rural areas.
It seems to be a win win solution to concentrate the rollout of the NBN in rural and regional areas to help build up their economies, and encourage people and businesses to move from the congested urban centres.
The real potential of fast speed Internet is that businesses can be established anywhere. They can take advantage of lower costs once the ‘tyranny of distance’ is removed. Capital cities already have access to some form of broadband or ADSL coverage. It is acknowledged that the current speeds are not adequate for many commercial environments, but the Government cannot build the NBN everywhere at once.
In the second phase of the NBN rollout in Tasmania, the Federal Government has agreed that it needs to consult more with Local Governments and local communities regarding the rollout. This is a step to be applauded.
Where the Government and NBN Co are lacking is educating rural communities about the potential of the new technology. Rural and regional Australians are unprepared for the impact that a faster Internet service will have on their businesses and everyday lives when the NBN is introduced. A recent survey of 1040 rural and regional Australians conducted by OurPatch, a community web portal has revealed widespread confusion over the NBN.
It is not enough to roll out the technology, it is essential to fully educate communities about its potential.
