The Social Infrastructure Needed to Develop Rural Internet Use in Southern Queensland

Abstract

When an influential farmer who sells computers to his neighbours publicly describes the internet as 'the biggest pain' for farmers and rural computer retailers, then it indicates that all is not well with the local rural internet service. The expanding use of the internet is exposing weaknesses in the rural telephone system, limitations in rural computer support services and a need for a wide range of training. This paper identifies the access and support problems experienced by a selection of early internet adopters in rural southern Queensland. Surveys and discussions were conducted with over 200 people who attended internet training events at Dalby and Applethorpe in southern Queensland in 1997. They perceived internet access to be costly and an often difficult and complex process. Existing ISPs and local computer support services had limited capabilities to cope with the complexity of factors needed to get local internet access to work consistently for different customers. Despite the promises of the internet, accessing it can be a major frustration for farmers and their computer suppliers. Better training and support services will be needed to expand rural internet use. The economic viability of rural internet services may be questionable unless the complex of social and technical constraints that early internet users are facing is not resolved.