David Robertson
I have a long and informative reply from David Robertson, lead councillor for the Oxfordshire broadband project.
His reply is very encouraging. Here is the gist of it.
1 Suppliers BT & Virgin do not seem active in rural areas as it is not in their commercial interest...
2 Sign up to BT Infinity is recommended as a way for residents to leave them in no doubt about our interest. There doesn't seem to be any other offerings...
3 There are policies to have broadband as part of the infrastructure in new developments where this is currently possible. For example in Banbury Canalside. But not in rural areas where provision would be difficult.
4 The government has a source of funds called Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and details are on the web site www.bis.gov.uk/BDUK. See below.
5 Oxfordshire has an embryonic project to roll out broadband to everyone in the county. This could use the existing Oxfordshire Community Network (to offices, schools, libraries, etc). Local independent broadband service providers could connect to the OCN to provide internet access in rural areas where the market has not delivered. Funds will be sought from BDUK. Full info soon.
Good - if a little slow
Cornwall have already a defined plan and money from the EU ERDF & BT to cover all the county, Oxfordshire need to run fast to catch up.
BIS - BDUK
I have ploughed through the BIS BDUK web site, you should too. It is full of spin talk but there are some good bits. Objectives
More later as I find it out...
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