CLA demands broadband answers from Government

Although the CLA welcomes the Government’s change of heart in finally acknowledging the need for a universal service obligation for broadband, today’s Digital Britain Report fails to say how rural areas are going to get connected.

CLA President Henry Aubrey-Fletcher said: "The CLA has been the only national organisation to vigorously campaign for affordable broadband connectivity to all rural areas in Britain. The fact that we have got so far is testament to our belief that without broadband, rural business remains uncompetitive and the digital divide between urban and rural areas is actually increasing as the pressure to communicate electronically comes from all directions.

"Today I have written to Lord Carter, requesting an urgent meeting to get the answers to three questions:

• Why is the UK Government, unlike those in France, Germany and now Ireland, refusing to provide significant public sector investment for a viable universal broadband network?

• What happens between now and 2012 when ’broadband for all’ is rolled out?

• Is the Government prepared to accept that until investment is made, some rural businesses will be unable to perform to their full potential, and that some families will remain educationally and socially disadvantaged?"

The CLA President added: "Irrespective of the political colour of the present or future Government, there still remains a failure in Whitehall to understand the contribution rural areas make to the overall economy as well as missing the opportunity to bring the UK up to speed with the rest of the world through the creation of a fibre-optic broadband network.

"The CLA will continue to push vigorously all those who are part of the broadband debate so that all those who live in rural areas can finally receive the broadband they deserve."