BIRRR Sky Muster Survey Results 2017
Hay, Rachel (2017) BIRRR Sky Muster Survey Results 2017. Report. James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
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Abstract
Better Internet for Rural Regional and Remote Australians (BIRRR) began as a Facebook group (administered by volunteers) in 2014 whose aim was to provide information and support on telecommunications services to those living in rural, remote and regional areas.
The BIRRR Regional Internet Access Survey aimed to establish the state of the internet for people in rural, regional and remote areas of Australia, by collecting information about internet use in rural, regional, and remote Australia. The data will be used to work with stakeholders to improve bush broadband. The survey was distributed to approximately 6000 members of the BIRRR membership base.
The survey found that rural, regional and remote people are severely disadvantaged in terms of access, speeds, cost and reliability of their internet connections, whether they be via mobile broadband or via satellite.
This has a dramatic effect on rural, regional and remote people's business, the education of their children and themselves and on their personal well-being.
There needs to be an established service guarantee for internet services Australia wide - equitable in terms of speed, download capabilities and costs. If this does not occur, regional Australia will be left behind.