CLA welcomes broadband universal service obligation

CLA welcomes broadband universal service obligation

The CLA, which represents thousands of landowners, farmers and other rural businesses in the North, has welcomed the announcement in the Queen’s Speech that businesses and homeowners will have a legal right to fast broadband covera

The new Digital Economy Bill will, amongst other measures, enshrine the universal service obligation for broadband in law. This means that all homes and businesses wherever located will have a right to broadband coverage of at least 10 megabits per second by 2020.

CLA North Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn said: “We welcome confirmation that we will finally get the legal guarantee of internet connection for all premises in rural areas that we have campaigned to secure for so many years.

“It is time to end the discrimination that makes it harder for rural businesses to compete on a level playing field with their urban counterparts and the CLA will be working to ensure this law delivers for rural communities in the North.”