Computing [1]: Speeding up broadband access across Shepway [2]
Posted by editor on Feb 11, 2011 - 08:50 AM
[3]
|
Shepway District Council is pressing for the whole district to be up
to speed when it comes to internet connections. |
 |
|
It is preparing a strategy, Switching on Shepway, and wants residents
and business to get involved by sharing their experiences of accessing
the internet.
The strategy will set out the council's ambitions to greatly improve
broadband access for residents and businesses across Shepway -
particularly in the more isolated rural parts of the district - and will
put Shepway in a strong position to bid for government funding later in
the year.
"We particularly want to improve internet access in rural areas. Our
research shows that on Romney Marsh and in rural communities to the
north of the district nearly 7,000 homes suffer from slow internet
connection," said Cllr Alan Clifton-Holt, Cabinet Member for Customer
Contact.
"If we are successful, we hope faster internet connections will help
create a more attractive environment for rural businesses to grow, show
that rural areas are ‘open for business,' improve access to public
services for rural communities, open up opportunities for ‘social
networking,' and ensure that rural communities and businesses are not at
a disadvantage because of low speed broadband."
The council set out its case in response to the publication of BDUK -
Britain's Superfast Broadband Future - a document that outlines the
government's aim of having the best superfast broadband network in
Europe by 2015.
As well as working with local residents, the council is also having
discussions with other councils and technical experts and looking at the
potential opportunities to bid for government funding
Damian Collins, MP for Folkestone and Hythe is supporting the council.
"I know from my work as the MP and in parliament on the Select Committee
for Culture, Media and Sport, just how important good broadband
connections will be to our future.
"I encourage everybody to help us in putting the case to the Government
to invest in Shepway's broadband future."
The next step in the council' plans is to organise two public meetings -
one on Romney Marsh and on in the north of the district - and to work
with the Channel Chamber of Commerce to get the views of local
businesses.
© Copyright of Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast
News 2011
|
Comments
I welcome the initiative to increase broadband speeds.
Rural areas across the UK are suffering from having to still use dialup services, in a time when man walked on the moon some 50 years ago.
From my own experiences living in an area with cable services, everything is great in theory.. except my promised 10MB service regularly drops to 1MB in busy times, making downloads very slow and upload speeds almost unuseable.
Let's first ensure suppliers are contracted to supply the speeds advertised.
Fred is right.
Why should rural areas get super-fast broadband ahead of towns? There are plenty of areas in Folkestone and Hythe in need of faster broadband connections, and it is far more economical and efficient to concentrate on these built-up areas first. Those who choose (and benefit from) leading a quiter life in out of the way places can't expect the majority to support and subsidise them as a priority. Get super-fast broadband into high population density areas, like Folkestone, first. Wealthy countryside folk should pay for their own high speed broadband.
Alexis,
the government and councils are not allowed to intervene in areas where it is viewed that private enterprise and business are able to solve the problem (which applies to most urban areas, if they did this would come under 'state aid' which is illegal under EU regulation.
However, as it is uneconomical for private business to get broadband into rural areas these areas are looked at as areas of market failure in which case the only available option is for the state to step in. This is one of many reasons why the governments recent broadband initiative is directed at rural locations.
Only logged in users are allowed to comment. register/log in [4]