2012 broadband report fails to bridge digital divide

The publication of the interim report on "Digital Britain" yesterday (Thursday, 29 January) shows graphically that the Government has failed to recognise the damage caused by the urban-rural digital divide, the CLA says.

CLA President Henry Aubrey-Fletcher said: "The CLA was one of the first national organisations to recognise that broadband is as fundamental to society as water, gas or electricity.

"However, to remain competitive, the rural economy has to be set on the same footing as the urban based economy. At present, given the lack of available broadband in rural areas, this is simply not the case.

"Given the importance and length of the report, we are disappointed the Government has failed to understand the frustration felt by those who feel they are disadvantaged by having no affordable broadband capability."

The CLA President said that a house with a schoolchild and no broadband means an educationally and socially deprived household.

"We also remain concerned that the Government still believes the private sector has the willingness as well as the ability to invest in the necessary infrastructure required to deliver broadband for all by 2012." He said.

"If reports that the Government will seek to use some of the BBC’s licence fee to fund this commitment are correct, then this would be welcomed.

"But it is only a first step and we urge the final Digital Britain report to state categorically that it will use public funds to finance the significant majority of the work."

The CLA President added: "We call on the Government to use the €20million available from unused Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding to kick start projects for rural community broadband. We will be putting concrete proposals on how to use this funding to Defra ministers in the near future."