The government’s new report on Next Generation Access (to broadband) makes it clear that even when 90% of the UK population has access to high-speed broadband there will be large parts of the country, overwhelmingly rural areas, without such access. The report (published by the Department of Communities and Local Government this month) features a series of maps, beginning on page 88, showing how things would look with just 45% coverage and then, in steps, how they would improve as coverage rises to 60%, 70% and so on. Even 95% coverage leaves large parts of the West Midlands without high-speed broadband.
Rural Affairs Minister Dan Norris MP told us at our annual conference on 16 March that he has been pressing home the point about the ten per cent who risk being left behind. We must encourage him to keep pressing the point and to ensure that all practicable solutions are explored. The alternative is that the ‘digital divide’ will widen.
Hi there. Nice to see the blog up and running. Good stuff.
Try adding an ‘about’ page to the blog with some information about who you are and a link back to your other sites – so readers can quickly find out who you are.
Feel free to get in touch with me if you need any help getting started with WordPress (Gavin at the Regional Observatory / tweet @thewmro).
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Hope this blog gets up and runnign soon – good idea!
The government’s new report on Next Generation Access (to broadband) makes it clear that even when 90% of the UK population has access to high-speed broadband there will be large parts of the country, overwhelmingly rural areas, without such access. The report (published by the Department of Communities and Local Government this month) features a series of maps, beginning on page 88, showing how things would look with just 45% coverage and then, in steps, how they would improve as coverage rises to 60%, 70% and so on. Even 95% coverage leaves large parts of the West Midlands without high-speed broadband.
Rural Affairs Minister Dan Norris MP told us at our annual conference on 16 March that he has been pressing home the point about the ten per cent who risk being left behind. We must encourage him to keep pressing the point and to ensure that all practicable solutions are explored. The alternative is that the ‘digital divide’ will widen.
Hi there. Nice to see the blog up and running. Good stuff.
Try adding an ‘about’ page to the blog with some information about who you are and a link back to your other sites – so readers can quickly find out who you are.
Feel free to get in touch with me if you need any help getting started with WordPress (Gavin at the Regional Observatory / tweet @thewmro).