Regional Telecommunications Review - Short Online Submissions
Full name:Sarah Vise
Date received:18 June 2015
Chapter 1: How does demand for telecommunications services inform the Review?
Please comment on how your reliance on telecommunications in regional Australia differs from urban areas.
In my area, mobile reception can be patchy and unreliable in many spots.
Recently there was an incident in a road accident where passers by were unable to call of assistance which could have made a life and death difference.
We are also disadvantaged with the current unreliable mobile service in emergency situations.
For myself, this limits the use of my mobile phone and I must have a land line. Whereas in urban areas people can use just a mobile service and not incur the added costs of both land line and mobile services.
I have to have satellite internet. I have friends who use mobile wireless internet. Both services here offer data and speed plans which are miniscule compared to urban areas. And we pay a much higher price for much less service.
Chapter 2: How are telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote Australia delivered?
Please comment on the delivery of services for example over fixed networks, mobile networks or satellite.
We only have fixed line delivery for land line phone on our street. And when I asked the NBN about future changes, the only information was that something would be done before 2020.
As mentioned, mobile service is not reliable in many spots.
I use satellite for internet service
Chapter 3: How are services being used in regional, rural and remote Australia?
Please comment on how telecommunication services are being used for example, interacting with government, education, health or running a business.
Internet is increasingly used for personal and business banking, government interaction such as mygov and centrelink, as well as other agencies such as this submission.
Rural people have the opportunity of receiving higher education, information necessary in making sound decisions and all forms of communication.
Everyone is aware of the increasing use of the internet.
Rural people should have the same reliable services urban people enjoy.
Chapter 4: Consumer safeguards
Please provide your views on current consumer safeguards and what should be considered in the future.
I am not informed on this subject.
Other comments
Please provide any other comments.
I am writing to present my disappointment that as a rural resident I do not the same affordable opportunities of internet use (ie, live streaming) and mobile use as urban residents take for granted.