REGIONAL connectivity issues have been in focus in the past week, with 29 SA locations selected to receive mobile base stations under round four of the Mobile Black Spot Program, and the federal government announcing it will fund a fifth and sixth round of the initiative.
I was especially pleased to read about the government's plan to establish a "digital tech hub" aimed at increasing digital literacy in rural areas. Such an initiative is sorely needed.
Country people cannot easily duck into the local Telstra shop or attend a WEA course to build their computer skills or learn how to pick the best internet plan.
As Better Internet for Rural, Regional and Remote Australia co-founder Kristy Sparrow says, it's essential this hub isn't just a website people are expected to find for themselves.
Without access to a phone support line, those without internet access or the confidence to go online will be left further behind.
Be it a phone service or an online chat function, having interactive support is essential to provide individual advice and ensure users can ask follow-up questions.
Furthermore, the support provided by the hub - via phone, on a website or in fact sheets - must be tailored to reflect the services, data limits and speeds available in the country.
It's clear great progress is being made in some areas. For example, the SA Isolated Children's Parents' Association held its state conference online for the first time on Friday, with members logging on from their own homes, rather than driving hundreds of kilometres to meet face-to-face.
Based on the diverse range of critical issues on the agenda, it's clear the switch from an in-person to an online conference did not dampen discussion.
But it's worth remembering that many of those living in our most remote areas have always been ahead of the game with their use of technology.
They've had to be - the internet is critical for their children's education, and banking would be impossible without going online.
Where they've struggled most is with trying to make their meagre data limits stretch far enough.
For every regional resident who is more comfortable surfing the web than the waves, there's another who feels increasingly disconnected from the world around them due to their lack of digital skills.
Unfortunately, as with so many other issues, those most in need are those most likely to fall through the cracks.
