CLA welcomes Lords’ recognition that broadband access is more important than speed

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) in the North has welcomed recognition from the House of Lords that broadband access for all is more important than superfast speeds, as outlined in a report published today (31 July) by the Select Committee on Communications.

The Association submitted written evidence to the committee’s inquiry on superfast broadband stating that the Government should provide a Universal Service Obligation of at least two Megabits per second (Mbps) in rural areas to close the widening digital divide.

CLA North Director of Policy and Public Affairs Douglas Chalmers said: “Although hundreds of millions of pounds is being poured into building a better broadband network, rural areas are largely ignored by the major telecoms companies which compete to roll out faster speeds to areas that already have a good service.

“We have been at the forefront of this debate for the last ten years, playing a pivotal role in the first rollout of broadband to rural areas, and we have continued to lobby both Government and the industry to introduce a coherent strategy for its expansion. We wholeheartedly agree with the findings of the report.

Mr Chalmers said the CLA shared the committee’s concerns about Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and its process for rolling out broadband infrastructure to rural areas.

He said: “With only two out of the nine bidders for local authorities to choose from, BDUK has a flawed procurement process. The concerns raised by the Lords, coupled with those already expressed by the CLA, should force the Government to intervene.”

Mr Chalmers added that the CLA did not agree with the Lords’ recommendation that using fibre optic is the best approach for delivering broadband infrastructure.

He said: “The CLA advocates a patchwork quilt model that uses the most appropriate technologies for a certain area, rather than using a single technology. An over-reliance on a single model is limiting the Government’s chance of meeting its 2015 deadlines to provide superfast broadband of at least 24 Mbps for 90 percent of premises, and its commitment to deliver two Mbps to all rural areas.”