Social enterprise Community Business Connect, part of the AgBiz Assist group, has received a $2.3 million grant from the Federal Government for the Rural Connectivity for Recovery and Resilience Project.
CBC offers a range of IT and connectivity products and services to residential and commercial users across regional Victoria and NSW.
Following the 2019-20 black summer bushfires, CBC identified an urgent need to improve mobile signal quality in the bushfire-affected areas of Towong and Alpine shires, where blackspot prevention programs are unlikely to assist in the near future.
Faced with the challenge of solving the unique issues experienced by those in rural communities and with post-disaster community recovery in mind, the RCRR project was developed.
The Federal Government funding will help with the distribution and installation of no-cost mobile signal boosters to residents in low coverage areas identified within the Alpine and Towong shires.
CBC will visit these areas and offer, in addition to the boosters, one-on-one education, support and communication analysis.
“The RCRR project will help to address the availability of a usable mobile signal in bushfire-affected communities,” CBC’s Dan Fewster said.
"This project will endeavour to bridge the gap in mobile connectivity in some of our region’s most affected rural communities.
“Despite having been unsuccessful to date, Community Business Connect will continue in their efforts to secure additional funding for the same or similar program within the Indigo Shire.”
More information is available at www.cbconnect.com.au/rcrr or by phoning 1300 844 420 or via email at: enquiries@cbconnect.com.au