The Multi-layers of Digital Exclusion in Rural Australia

Abstract

Despite many policy interventions, Australia's rural areas continue to be at a digital disadvantage. With the increasing penetration of information and communication technologies (ICT) into all public and private realms, there is a need to examine the deeply rooted digital divide and how it relates to multiple dimensions of infrastructure, services and demand in rural communities. This paper reports findings from a workshop with seven rural local governments from the State of New South Wales, Australia. The findings suggest that rural digital exclusion results from a multi-layered divide where elements of infrastructure, connectivity and digital engagement are intertwined.

Social Media and Local Governments

“…Their local government offers advanced avenues for digital engagement including use of social media and online discussion forums. Further details of the methodologies for the workshop and focus groups are available in Park et al ( 2015 ) and Freeman and McCallum ( 2013 ), respectively. While these projects were not specifi cally designed to interconnect, their fi ndings provide an opportunity to highlight contrasting experiences of the value and usefulness of digital participation opportunities at the local level, and compliment conclusions drawn from the survey data.…”

“…In terms of connectivity, current plans for broadband development under the NBN have done little to aid rural access to the i nternet in these regions (Park et al 2015 ). Fibre optic connections remain rare and those citizens connected to NBN broadband through fi xed wireless and satellite connections continue to be inundated with issues surrounding latency, intermittent signals, dropped connections during peak use times, and higher costs of connection than urban citizens.…”

The Supply and Use of Broadband in Rural Australia: An Explanatory Case Study of the Western Downs Region

“…A combination of poor telecommunications infrastructure coverage, low population density, inadequate regulation, and a focus by telecommunications companies on high-cost technologies designed for urban markets makes internet connectivity in many rural areas a complex and costly proposition (Arai, Naganuma & Satake 2012;Grubesic 2012;Hill, Troshani & Burgan 2014;Kawade & Nekovee 2012). Due to inadequate information and communication infrastructure and facilities in rural and remote areas, the digital divide between rural communities and urban communities is not improving and could be widening (Park et al 2015;Willis & Tranter 2006). Table 1 highlights that wireless broadband access technology is a finite shared broadband service which is highly susceptible to interference in contrast to wired broadband, in particular, fibre optic broadband which has abundant capacity and is highly reliable (Lehr & Chapin 2009).…”

“…Rural Australia could be directly affected if many rural communities are excluded from the potential benefits of accessing and utilising broadband infrastructure as a universal service. Inadequate broadband infrastructure and lower levels of services in rural areas are ongoing problems (Alam & Imran 2015;Bandias & Ram Vemuri 2005;Park et al 2015). According to the 2014-15 Regional Telecommunications Review (RTR), individuals and businesses in rural communities have limited options in choosing a broadband provider; they typically have lower internet connection speeds, smaller data quotas, limited mobile broadband availability and generally higher prices compared to their urban counterparts (RTIRC 2015).…”

The Importance of Broadband for Socio-Economic Development: A Perspective from Rural Australia

“…Despite efforts to narrow the digital divide between rural and urban areas, this gap has not been significantly reduced and the effects of the gap are exacerbated by rural areas' overall lower educational and income levels as well as aging populations (Park, Freeman, Middleton, Allen, Eckermann & Everson, 2015). Moreover, absence of rural competition diminishes the provision of innovative services and prospects for reduced prices, with limited consumer choice resulting in increased cost to access inferior infrastructure (Eardley et al, 2009).…”