Two campaigns launched this week aim to assess broadband availability in rural Northumberland.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan has launched Broadband 4 Northumberland in a bid to gather data about existing services and identify future needs.
“We need to gather the personal and business issues and impact of poor broadband services on communities in Northumberland,” said Ms Trevelyan.
The campaign is asking residents and businesses in Northumberland to record their broadband experiences via an online questionnaire.
The information gathered by Broadband 4 Northumberland will be shared with Northumberland County Council’s BDUK bid which is expected to be submitted before the end of the year.
“Superfast broadband will have a transformational effect on all aspects of life in our county. Our project envisages benefits to healthcare provision, the delivery of education and more efficient and connected ways the public sector might work together,” said Steve Stewart, chief executive, Northumberland County Council.
The Government’s goal is that 90% of homes and businesses having access to up to 40MBps superfast broadband and the balance should have access to at least 2MBps by 2015.
Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) part of the Department of the Culture, Media and Sport, has been set-up with a fund of £530 million from the TV licence fee to plug the gaps where commercially delivered broadband isn’t viable.
Local County Councils are expected to apply for the investment by developing a local superfast broadband plan.
Meanwhile the County Land & Business Association (CLA) is lobbying the Government to increase the benchmark broadband speed from 2Mbps to 5Mbps.
It has teamed up with internet and social media expert John Popham to tour the UK and hear from businesses in rural areas that are unable to access a fast affordable, broadband connection.
Mr Popham will interview people about broadband issues and discuss potential solutions at venues in the North-East, as part of a UK tour, on Thursday, 3 November visiting the following locations:
- Northern Farming Conference, Hardwick Hall Hotel, Co Durham, TS21 2EH
- Goats on the Roof, Fontburn, Northumberland, NE61 4PL
Mr Popham has named his tour Can’t Get Online Week in a direct challenge to the Government’s Get Online Week that is running this week. His aim is to collate and publish the evidence he gathers on the Can’t Get Online Facebook Group and blog.
Wadds, I know I keep banging on about this but best solution for isolated rural homes and communities is to push for a Universal Service Obligation as part of the 4G spectrum auctions at the end of next year
Charles, you are right that this is a key plank for reaching those difficult isolated areas. We are drawing in mobile reception data too. I am pushing for county hall to make this part of our bid, and i am lobbying central government to make sure the 4G auction pushes 100% coverage.