Internet access in rural australia: Issues and policies

Information and communication technologies (ICT), especially the Internet, have become the primary vehicle for promoting sustainable development and growth in the global economy. Australia is well placed to embrace the information economy. However, the take up of the Internet is not even throughout the country. It is apparent that rural communities can not take full advantage of the opportunities that the information economy offers in terms of greater business and economic development opportunities, improved family and community health, and education. This is due to lack of sufficient bandwidth and affordable pricing. Government policies governing the telecommunications service market and information infrastructure have a significant impact on the growth of Internet access. This paper explores the approaches to promoting and regulating Internet access in regional and rural Australia and examines their impact on the evolution of the Internet in Australia. This study aims to identify the factors affecting Internet access in terms of availability and affordability. It focuses on those factors which encourage the creation of a policy and regulatory environment favourable to the development of Internet infrastructure and access in rural Australia.