http://www.theage.com.au/national/broadband-future-comes-to-tasmania-20100709-1049f.html And why were these little boroughs chosen?

I'm not sure. But I suspect it's because:

a) the fibre was already in place due to it being laid at the same time as the recent gas roll-out

b) they are small communities that are a microcosm of larger communities and so will help them analyse the product and overcome problems at a smaller scale before taking it further.

URL: http://www.formspring.me/briggswill/q/785703109