The federal government will consider recommendations from the Indigenous advisory group it established on how to break down barriers to digital inclusion for First Nations people.

The roadmap by the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group (FNDIAG) comes after the body was established in January 2023 to advise the government on digital inclusion improvements across access, affordability and digital ability.

Co-chairs Dot West OAM and Dr Lyndon Ormond-Parker were charged with leading the strategy to progress a key Closing the Gap target: to achieve equal levels of digital inclusion for First Nations people by 2026.

Other FNDIAG recommendations supported First Nations digital innovation and excellence and was driven by extensive engagement with First Nations people and communities, many in remote areas.

The current communications gap in online and phone services has a serious impact on Indigenous and predominantly Indigenous remote and regional communities, affecting education, training, health and commerce.

While some programs have been confirmed via the $68million strategy to close the gap on digital inclusion – such as a $20million to deliver free and reliable wi-fi in 15 Indigenous community spaces across South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia and the NT – the federal government said it was still working, auditing or developing other measures to support recommendations from its advisory board.

These included reviewing its central advertising strategy and implementing more tailored campaigns with First Nations media, and initiatives to support First Nations media across the sector.

A spokesperson for the Federal communications minister Michelle Rowland told National Indigenous Times the roadmap highlighted the importance of First Nations media which gives "issues an important voice and platform".

"The Albanese government supports a diverse, independent and sustainable media sector - First Nations media has an important role to play," they said.

"Within the communications portfolio, a number of reviews are underway, including the Community Broadcasting Sector Sustainability Review.

"This has been considering funding, legislative and regulatory issues for community broadcasting; First Nations funding and licensing is one of three priority areas."

A Remote and Regional Television Transmission and Reception Audit has worked to identify and quantify gaps and deficiencies in television transmission infrastructure in remote and regional Australia, including First Nations communities.

"This work will help to inform future support measures, and we will have more to say shortly," Ms Rowland's spokesperson said.

While the Minister's office did not address if the federal government would consider adding First Nations media websites to its list of data-free domains – so Indigenous audiences could access news relevant to them for free – it did say the roadmap highlighted "the considerable benefits of digital inclusion, including access to services and information, social connection and economic opportunity".

The government has said it wants to bridge the digital divide for First Nations people in regional and remote communities "with the support, strong advocacy and advice of the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group", which it thanked for their "invaluable expertise and work informing policy and decision-making now and into the future".

"The advisory group's roadmap advances solutions to narrow the digital divide," Ms Rowland said.

"By working together with state and territory governments, industry, and communities, we can progress towards Target 17 of Closing the Gap."

The government said it was delivering on its advisory group's key recommendations, many of which the group said should be pursued "immediately".

RMIT research released last week found internet use was growing in remote First Nations communities, but cost was still a barrier and there was "a long way to go to close the digital gap for communities".

The government said it would consider its advisory group's recommendations and continue to work closely with the FNDIAG to improve digital inclusion, focusing on online access, affordability and ability.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said the roadmap recognised the importance of place-based solutions and put First Nations people and communities at the centre of this work.

"The roadmap supports First Nations people to innovate and thrive online, by having access to the opportunities enabled by digital inclusion," Senator McCarthy said.

Several "immediate" recommendations from the FNDIAG included "all governments review their website accessibility requirements to ensure information is culturally appropriate for First Nations Australians and accessible to people with lower levels of digital inclusion".

It also recommended governments across all levels and telecommunications providers engage "more closely with First Nations media and broadcasters, both to draw on their expertise, and ensure open lines of communication".

The roadmap, and more information on Closing the Gap on digital inclusion, is available online.