BBC NEWS | Making Rural Broadband a Reality
On Wednesday Stephen Timms, the DTI Minister for e-commerce, spoke at RuralNet 2003, the group working for people in rural areas who are socially excluded.
Mr Timms announced government support for the Community Broadband Network, a new group which will assist self-help projects.
He also voiced support for community-owned social enterprises which provide broadband service and are driven by need, rather than the desire for profit.
One example is Cybermoor, a community co-operative in the Cumbrian town of Alston which has over 300 homes and businesses connected over a wireless network.
The co-operative was established to take over when funding for a successful pilot project ended.
Part of the reason for Cybermoor's success is that it is priced the same as dial-up for home users, £15, and so one of the main factors that seems to block broadband adoption is not there.
Yet another example, this time via Bill Thompson's column on BBC News, of communities forming not for Profit orgnisations to bring broadband to their area. This particular group are even providing the service at a considerable discount to the major providers, enabling their community to have access without the so called barrier to entry of a high price. I happen to agree with Bill's views here that a community organisation seeking to benefit people rather than a company attempting to satisfy shareholders is the right way forward in this instance. Its good to see that the Government are also at last going to support this kind of initiative.
Ideally there also needs to be investment in 'web services' which allow these type of rural communities to survive. EGovernment certanly can help but ultimately it must be the kind of service that allows, supports encourages economic activity in these areas. Teleworking is a basic obvious example however I am sure there are more.
We really must use this type of technology to facilitate diversity.
Posted by Paul Goodison at October 17, 2003 10:20 PM | TrackBack