The council recently met with Telstra Business Centre representatives in Tamworth to examine ways of addressing ongoing telecommunication issues in Spring Ridge, Werris Creek and Blackville.

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It has since established the Telecommunications Outreach Program (TOP) and is circulating an online questionnaire to gather in-depth data to inform solutions.

"We already have a lot of anecdotal evidence and the intention is to build on this through more concrete research via input from those affected," LPSC mayor Andrew Hope said.

"Telstra Business Centre has expressed a desire to work constructively with the Liverpool Plains shire community ... and have offered to undertake some free site surveys in areas registering the greatest concern.

"This requires a focus on localities so we can bundle them together geographically to expedite the process."

Cr Hope said customers requiring "urgent action" would be offered a commercial solution by TBC but would be under "no pressure" to accept the solution.

News of Telstra's upgrade plan came after an independent review of regional telecommunications, which reinforced the importance of fixed line phone services for people living outside the cities.

However, a Telstra spokesperson said: "We don't have any specific details for locations across Australia at this stage."

Earlier in March, Spring Ridge Local Action Group (LAG) convenor Vicki Donnelly told the NVI that the village had been battling with Telstra for about 10 years over poor reception for landlines and mobiles, and in October and December, residents had no connection for up to four days at a time.

Without reliable landlines, residents, businesses, and farmers do not have access to the Internet or Eftpos facilities, and there are safety concerns.

"Lack of mobile phone and internet service combined with a devastating drought has a detrimental affect on the local community," Mrs Donnelly said.

"This problem needs to be rectified in the immediate future."

To complete the telecommunications questionnaire online, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LPSCTCS19