Having better access to reliable and affordable phone and internet services is essential for people, living, working and travelling in regional, rural and remote areas. We need good services to run our businesses, educate our children and stay connected with family and friends. While AgForce was initially disappointed not to see new funding in the Federal Budget, we welcomed the recent announcement there will be a fourth round of the Mobile Black Spot Program. The focus of this $25 million will be to improve phone coverage along transport routes, in small communities and in tourism hotspots with seasonal demand, and we’ll be lobbying for funding to go to areas of Queensland that missed out in earlier rounds of the program. Better phone and internet services can also translate into better farm gate returns, but we need to provide support to build the capabilities of users as new technologies become available. That’s why AgForce has been advocating for governments and service providers to back a Telecommunication Innovation Project to employ independent and trusted advisers who would provide regionally located extension and technical support. The aim would be to provide independent advice so primary producers know what services are available and what the best solution is for their individual circumstances. In the meantime, AgForce has an escalation process in place for members having challenges with NBN and Telstra – check with your regional manager. Finally, I’d like to urge QCL readers to get involved in the Federal Government’s Regional Telecommunications Review. This review only happens once every three years and considers the adequacy of services, the National Broadband Network, the Universal Service Guarantee, the Mobile Black Spot Program and how to maximise the economic benefits of digital technologies for regional communities. Primary producers are well-represented on the review committee, which includes Queensland beef producer, co-founder of Better Internet for Regional Rural and Remote Australia and AgForce member Kylie Stretton, as well as Victorian dairy farmer Paul Weller. Submissions are sought until August 5 via http://www.rtirc.gov.au/consultation.html and consultation sessions will occur in Dalby, Longreach, Townsville and Cairns in the week commencing July 9.