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UK government pushes ahead with rural broadband plans | UK government pushes ahead with rural broadband plans |
(1 day later) | |
The government is pushing ahead with the second wave of funding for super-fast broadband across the UK. | The government is pushing ahead with the second wave of funding for super-fast broadband across the UK. |
It comes despite the fact that no firms or technologies have yet been chosen for original pilot areas earmarked to test how to roll out next-generation broadband to remote areas. | It comes despite the fact that no firms or technologies have yet been chosen for original pilot areas earmarked to test how to roll out next-generation broadband to remote areas. |
New bids are now being invited for a further £50m. | New bids are now being invited for a further £50m. |
The government has pledged to make the UK the best place for super-fast broadband in Europe by 2015. | The government has pledged to make the UK the best place for super-fast broadband in Europe by 2015. |
The £50m will be made available to local authorities around the UK. | The £50m will be made available to local authorities around the UK. |
"This is very much a locally-driven process and we encourage bids from all local people with plans for improving broadband in their local area," said Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne. | "This is very much a locally-driven process and we encourage bids from all local people with plans for improving broadband in their local area," said Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne. |
Local councils wanting to take advantage of the latest tranche of funding will need to apply via the Broadband Delivery UK. | Local councils wanting to take advantage of the latest tranche of funding will need to apply via the Broadband Delivery UK. |
The government estimated that the funding would help a further 800,000 homes to benefit from next-generation broadband. | The government estimated that the funding would help a further 800,000 homes to benefit from next-generation broadband. |
Slow progress | Slow progress |
Some have questioned the timing of the new scheme, given that pilots intended to be testbeds for best practice in connecting the so-called 'final third' have yet to begin. | Some have questioned the timing of the new scheme, given that pilots intended to be testbeds for best practice in connecting the so-called 'final third' have yet to begin. |
This is the third of UK homes that are not economically attractive to firms such as BT and Virgin Media because offering next-generation services there would cost too much money. | This is the third of UK homes that are not economically attractive to firms such as BT and Virgin Media because offering next-generation services there would cost too much money. |
At the time they were announced Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Jeremy Hunt said: "Our aim is to use these rural market testing pilots to discover exactly what needs to be done to make super-fast broadband commercially viable in rural communities". | At the time they were announced Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Jeremy Hunt said: "Our aim is to use these rural market testing pilots to discover exactly what needs to be done to make super-fast broadband commercially viable in rural communities". |
Despite announcing the four areas in October - North Yorkshire, Cumbria, Herefordshire and the Highlands and Islands - no firm or technologies have yet been chosen for the areas. | Despite announcing the four areas in October - North Yorkshire, Cumbria, Herefordshire and the Highlands and Islands - no firm or technologies have yet been chosen for the areas. |
Each trial was allocated a fund of between £5m and £10m. | Each trial was allocated a fund of between £5m and £10m. |
Lack of progress led Labour MP Ian Lucas to ask the government to "pull its finger out" last month. | Lack of progress led Labour MP Ian Lucas to ask the government to "pull its finger out" last month. |
A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport conceded that it has been a long process. | A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport conceded that it has been a long process. |
"Councils are having to get everything ready. They have to know what work needs to be done." | "Councils are having to get everything ready. They have to know what work needs to be done." |
He said that announcements would be made soon. | He said that announcements would be made soon. |
In total the government has earmarked £530m of public money to be spent on bringing super-fast broadband to rural areas. | In total the government has earmarked £530m of public money to be spent on bringing super-fast broadband to rural areas. |
This money is drawn from the BBC licence fee and was originally earmarked to help people with the switch over to digital TV. | |
Any funds to speed up broadband roll-out should be applauded said Sebastien Lahtinen of broadband news site ThinkBroadband. | Any funds to speed up broadband roll-out should be applauded said Sebastien Lahtinen of broadband news site ThinkBroadband. |
"This crucial step will be welcomed by those living in the 'final third', the most remote areas of the UK which currently suffer from a lack of decent broadband services. | "This crucial step will be welcomed by those living in the 'final third', the most remote areas of the UK which currently suffer from a lack of decent broadband services. |
However, many in those areas will continue to be frustrated that it's going to take years to roll out across the entire country," he said. | However, many in those areas will continue to be frustrated that it's going to take years to roll out across the entire country," he said. |
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