Broadband campaign to be taken to the Great Yorkshire (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Broadband campaign to be taken to the Great Yorkshire

10:41am Friday 3rd July 2009

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THE campaign to win broadband coverage for rural areas will be taken to this month's Great Yorkshire Show.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) believes Lord Carter's long-awaited Digital Britain report finally recognised the UK was at "a tipping point".

But it accused it of still failing to understand the urgent need of rural business for universal high-speed internet access.

Dorothy Fairburn, CLA Yorkshire regional director, said the Carter report was a fair first attempt at trying to resolve the rural-urban digital divide.

But she said: "Many people now see broadband as being a utility as important as gas and electric and therefore will be disappointed by the overall findings.

"More needs to be done if those in remoter parts of the country are to have a future in digital Britain because if not they will continue to suffer severe economic and social disadvantages."

The CLA has welcomed the report's idea for a 50p levy on all fixed copper lines to help to fund broadband for all and the use of an estimated £200m contribution from unspent digital switchover funds.

However, the report had not put any figures on how much extra cash would be generated from other sources and said it was "highly doubtful" the figures raised would be enough to provide access for all.

Miss Fairburn said: "Countless studies have underlined our point that, without a clear commitment from Government, rural areas will become digital age outcasts."

The CLA will take its fight to the Great Yorkshire where a large map of Yorkshire will be displayed on its stand.

Those who suffer from inadequate broadband will be asked to stick a pin in their location.

The feedback will enable the CLA to emphasise accurately to the Government and service providers not only where the major "notspots" are in the county but also the adverse effect it is having on communities.

Miss Fairburn said: "The CLA has shown total commitment to the rural broadband cause in Yorkshire, and throughout Britain, and is determined to see its actions through to a successful conclusion.

"We therefore call urgently on the Government to look at all the available options in a visionary way one possible solution is rural communities piggy-backing on unused public sector bandwidth."

Ends.

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