Address broadband need not opportunity says CLA

The CLA in the north has reacted with mixed feelings to the announcement that BT is to roll out a super-fast broadband network to six UK cities by 2010.

Douglas Chalmers, Director CLA North said: "This is undoubtedly good news for those who will benefit from a service 10 times faster than most can now achieve, but it just broadens the divide between those who will enjoy the new speeds and those in many rural areas who cannot access at all. This latest investment is simply providing the broadband-privileged with an even better service before ensuring provision for all. This is simply not right.

"The optimist in me hopes that by including two rural areas in the trial BT will learn lessons about deploying fibre-optic in rural environments. We have plenty of evidence from this region confirming that the inability to access fast affordable broadband leads to social and economic deprivation. Social deprivation should never be acceptable, and in our current economic state we should be actively removing any barriers to businesses trading, so surely these areas should be the priority."