Vodafone New Zealand have launched a new initiative for remote communities not already covered by their network nor slated for broadband services under the government's rural broadband program. The Community Cell Site request scheme will select at least two communities each year to investigate the installation of a new mobile cell site.  There will be at least one community in each of the North and South Islands.

Some application criteria will apply. First is that the community have no existing mobile coverage.

In the run up to the 2011 election, it seems clear that broadband in rural New Zealand has been forgotten about by the political parties.

Neither the Labour nor Green parties have specific and actionable policies to ensure that rural New Zealand participates in the coming digital society.  The Maori party have some great policies but they are aimed at Maori.

National think they have done all that is required for infrastructure and those living in urban areas will benefit from fibre-to-the-home with no connection cost.  However those living in rural areas are, by government policy, facing a new urban/rural digital divide based on those who have ultra fast broadband and those who do not.  This is despite Mr Key’s principle of 'equal opportunity of access' stated in Monday night's election debate on TV1.

So what specific and actionable policies might the government adopt so that rural New Zealanders have the opportunity for equal access to the digital society?

Last week Rural Connect looked at the Labour Party's Information and Communications Technology (ICT) policy around the convergence of broadcasting and telecommunications and the need therefore, for new regulations.

We considered that the need for regulation covering technical aspects of broadcasting via the Internet no longer existed, leaving only content as an area to regulate. We argued that content regulation could cover only censorship and access to Internet sites which are areas where governments ought not be involved.

This week, we continue with a look at the Labour Party's ICT policies and check out the policies of the National, Maori and Green parties.

With the Rugby World Cup in its final week we are now starting to see political parties winding up for the elections in just five weeks.

The New Zealand Labour Party has this week released their policy on Information and Communication Technology (ICT). What a self-blinkered document it is, full of "investigating ways" and "independent reviews", lacking in specific actions that could have differentiated the Labour Party in this important area. More importantly, the policy provides no recognition of the hegemony of corporate control of ICT infrastructure that has resulted in the need for government subsidies to telecommunications providers.

The policy covers three main areas and a number of minor ones.

The first main area is about the convergence of broadcasting and telecommunications.