More than 40 residents from Eudunda, Robertstown, Point Pass and surrounds have raised telecommunications concerns with Labor Duty Member for Frome, Tony Piccolo MP, sharing stories of little to no signal.
“It’s unacceptable that these residents have inadequate phone and internet coverage in the age we live in today,” said Mr Piccolo.
“Reliable communication is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity, and the safety and wellbeing of our community depend upon it.
“We need immediate action to upgrade the infrastructure and ensure that everyone can stay connected no matter where they are.”
Following Mr Piccolo’s appointment as Labor Duty Member for the region in November, he organised a Telecommunications Forum with residents at the Eudunda RSL, held Community Listening Posts for the public to approach his office with issues and sent surveys to residents in the area.
Concerns included a surge in connectivity issues following the shutdown of the 3G network, causing disruption to residents’ daily lives and businesses alike - with some respondents reported that they are forced to travel long distances to achieve a strong enough signal to allow them to complete the most basic daily tasks.
Mr Piccolo has also had initial discussions with representatives of Telstra and NBN Co. to discuss the issue.
“...It’s not just emergencies that make this an issue; it’s everyday life as we rely on technology to run our businesses, access information, pay bills and connect with our families and friends — especially when we’re older and cannot travel,” said Mr Piccolo.
“I would encourage people to continue filling out the surveys and returning them to my office so that we can build a strong case for the necessary infrastructure upgrades.”
Mr Piccolo advised he is working behind the scenes with Federal Government colleagues to investigate how to collaborate with telecommunication providers to resolve the issue.
