Residents' help is being enlisted to enable the Western Bay of Plenty District Council to obtain a slice of $360 million government funding for improved internet connectivity.

Mayor Ross Paterson is encouraging district residents to list their internet issues via an online survey which opens today.

Photo: File.

'The results of the survey will help us define the extent of broadband connection problems, how these problems affect business and everyday life and the demand for better internet services in the local community,” says Ross.

To secure some of the funding, the district council must first prove the need for faster internet, primarily in its rural communities.

'The Rural Broadband Initiative targets places where peak download speed is less than five megabits per second, and for mobile black spots the focus is on areas along main highways and popular tourist destinations,” adds Ross.

People can check the Broadband Finder to see what's already available in their area, and the Chorus broadband capability map to learn of any upcoming plans.

The government funding is divided across three areas with $100m to extend rural broadband, between $152m and $210m to extend ultrafast broadband, and $50m to address black spots in the mobile network.

Te Puke and Katikati are already on the Government's ultrafast fibre radar, but councils are being asked to identify other urban areas that could be considered, and to prove their case.

Improved connectivity would offer many benefits for rural communities – either for private or business use, says Ross.

'Faster internet would make simple tasks such as checking emails, paying bills, browsing the internet, or downloading important documents so much easier,” he explains.

'This is about bettering people's livelihoods, social interactions, education and businesses. I encourage everyone to get involved, fill in the survey, and help us prove the need.”

The survey is open from Thursday, 14 May to Friday, 5 June 2015.

For more information and to complete the survey, click here.