CRC Work : Broadband and ICT http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/projects/broadbandandict/ en-us Copyright 2010 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:31:16 UT Latest items from Broadband and ICT on http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:31:16 UT Welcoming government’s drive for superfast broadband http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5534 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5534 The Government has announced that a new body ‘Broadband Delivery UK’ is to be responsible for rolling-out next generation broadband across the UK. At the same time a major report forecasting the future reach of next generation broadband across the UK has been published by the Government.

Commenting on the report Sarah McAdam our Chief Executive said: “We welcome this important research, which sets out in a clear and straightforward way which communities may be at risk of not benefiting from next generation broadband. Our ‘Mind the Gap’ report identifies the importance of broadband to rural communities. Lack of broadband provision or poor speeds mean that many rural areas risk being left further behind as next generation broadband is introduced, but factors such as social deprivation, demographics and individuals’ reservations about using new technology may also have an influence.

“The research is the first to analyse these effects and their collective impact on digital inclusion. It highlights where attention is needed to ensure that parts of the country are not left behind in access to up-to-date fibre-based communications services. I also hope it will inspire industry and communities themselves to join Government to commit to bridging the access gap for rural areas. Working together can ensure that ‘Digital Britain’ does not become a ‘two-tier’ Britain.”
 

]]> Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:43:30 UT Welcoming the Prime Minister’s comments on super-fast broadband for the whole country http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5392 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5392 We are pleased to see the Prime Minster’s comments in today’s Daily Telegraph about the importance of super-fast broadband for the whole country. His statements that “We are determined in particular to see rural communities benefit from this [Next Generation Access] investment and the economic and social advantages that will inevitably follow” and “A comprehensive digital infrastructure is one of the key foundations of the UK's future growth and prosperity” are a particularly welcome commitment to the inclusion of rural communities in plans for the provision of super-fast broadband. 

The Prime Minister also mentions the Government’s ‘going for growth’ plan for sustaining recovery and achieving tomorrow's prosperity and how investing in super-fast broadband is critical to its success. We would now encourage all rural communities to participate in the Government’s consultation on proposals for a next-generation broadband fund. 

]]> Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:30:54 UT Delivering Digital Inclusion: Tackling Social Exclusion Through Technology http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5170 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5170 Gill Payne, one of our Executive Directors, will be speaking at 'Digital Inclusion: Tackling Social Exclusion Through Technology' about rural digital inclusion.


Gill will draw on our report 'Mind the Gap: Digital England - a rural perspective' to talk about:


  • The rural picture-the current state of rural digital inclusion

  • What are the rural issues?

  • Social and community cohesion

  • Universal connectivity in rural areas

  • Next Generation Access – now and in the future


Visit the conference website to find out more about the event and how to attend

]]> Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:23:28 UT Welcoming the interim Digital Britain report http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4047 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4047 We welcome today's publication of ‘Digital Britain: The Interim Report’. Access to higher-speed broadband remains an issue for rural areas. A recent Ofcom study highlights that consumers living in urban areas receive speeds 15% faster on average than those in rural areas.


High-speed, reliable broadband is crucial to rural communities, both businesses and households – even more so in a recession for those looking for alternative employment and to businesses seeking to innovate or move into new, global markets.


The specific proposal on universal access to broadband in the report is welcome but must not be regarded as ‘job done’ for rural areas. They need and deserve the best the latest technology can offer, just as much as large cities and towns.

]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:38:52 UT Rural Advocate visits superfast community broadband network http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4024 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4024 Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate, is visiting Alston in Cumbria to see how one rural community is building its own superfast broadband network – Alston Fibremoor.


As the Government’s plans for future superfast broadband take shape, rural communities are again facing the risk of being on the wrong side of the digital divide.


The Alston Fibremoor community cooperative, a development of Alston Cybermoor, is aiming to make Alston one of the first villages in the UK to offer ‘fibre to the home’ in 2009.


The cooperative will be laying the cable and the network will be owned by the community rather than a corporate business.


"The future of broadband in rural communities is a serious issue. Ensuring they are not left out of plans for future generation broadband is critical. There are also important economic factors at play – for example, farmers will have little incentive to redevelop redundant buildings, for offices, retail or leisure use, if suitable broadband isn’t available."


Read the full press release

]]> Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:29:07 UT Ofcom's new research to highlight actual broadband speeds http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/3082 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/3082

Following the recent BBC report on broadband speeds in the UK, Ofcom has announced that it has launched a programme of independent research to identify the actual speed of broadband around the country. They also announced a new voluntary code of conduct for broadband providers.


These measures should help consumers of broadband services get an accurate picture of how fast their connection will actually be when comparing offers from different suppliers.


The survey will help to show whether a new digital divide is opening up between rural and urban areas based on the speed of broadband available.

Find out more about some of the work we've done on broadband in rural areas

]]> Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:01:20 UT BBC survey shows rural broadband is slower than towns http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/3071 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/3071 Today's BBC report on broadband speeds in the UK shows there is still a gap between the connection speeds available in urban areas and those available to many rural communities.


We need to ensure that rural communities have the same access to higher speed broadband as urban areas. It's also important to remember that some more remote rural areas still have problems obtaining any broadband service.


Find out more about some of the work we've done on broadband in rural areas

]]> Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:17:41 UT Broadband take-up in Rural Areas http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/2997 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/2997 Yesterday's news from Ofcom that rural areas have higher takeup of broadband than urban areas is welcome.


But although take-up is higher, there is still a gap between the connection speeds available in urban areas and those available to many rural communities.


We need to ensure that rural communities have the same access to higher speed broadband as urban areas, a point raised by the Countryside Alliance in a letter in today's Guardian.


It's also important to remember that some more remote rural areas still have problems obtaining any broadband service.

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