CONNECTIVITY LITERACY

What is it and why is it important?

Many rural, regional and remote (RRR) Australians are expected to navigate a complex telecommunications landscape just to get and stay connected. Drawing on its experience helping these consumers, Better Internet for Rural, Regional and Remote Australia (BIRRR) began developing the concept of Connectivity Literacy in 2019.

Connectivity Literacy is having the awareness, knowledge and confidence
required to get and stay connected to telecommunications services.

It involves:

  • Knowing which technologies and services are available at your location and understanding how they work.
  • Choosing a provider, plan and equipment that suit your needs and budget.
  • Knowing how to troubleshoot problems and where to get help.
  • Understanding your rights as a consumer.

These skills help people make informed decisions about the connections they rely on for work, education, healthcare, social connection and everyday tasks.

Building connectivity literacy must go hand in hand with clear information, accessible support and telecommunications services that meet community needs. Consumers should not have to become telecommunications experts to get and stay connected.

But this isn’t something most people can or should be expected to learn on their own.

For many years, regional Australians have had limited choice, often just one provider or technology. Now, with the growing number of new technologies, more providers, and a flood of promotional content online, the situation has become even more confusing. Plans are often complex, marketing can be misleading, and key information is buried in fine print or clouded by misinformation across telcos, social media, and the media more broadly.

Importantly, being digitally literate (knowing how to use a device or navigate the internet) does not mean someone is connectivity literate, and vice versa. While there are many programs to help people build digital skills, there is very little practical support to help people make informed, confident decisions about connectivity itself. The telecommunications industry often assumes a high level of consumer knowledge, yet many products and services are not designed with real-world users in mind.

At BIRRR, we’re a small team of volunteers doing what we can to support consumers through education, resources, and advocacy. But we can’t do it alone. That’s why we encourage you to share our Connectivity Literacy infographic and join our Facebook group to help spread the word in your communities.

In partnership with JCU and through the support of an auda grant, BIRRR is developing the Connectivity Code. Training modules to help teach trusted community members and stakeholders to build local capacity to support others to confidently navigate telecommunications services.

If you are interested in supporting our project please contact us at birrraus@gmail.com

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