We’d like to promote digitally-connected business:
The Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan – supporting an entrepreneurial culture
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Looking across the East Devon countryside.
So too would the Rural Services Network – which has been giving evidence to the Environment and Rural Affairs parliamentary committee:
RSN GIVES EVIDENCE ON RURAL BROADBAND TO EFRA
Meanwhile, promises are being made:
Writing in The Telegraph, Conservative leadership candidate Boris Johnson pledged to tackle the digital divide
He said that it was a ‘disgrace’ that there is such a ‘deep digital divide’ in the UK and that ‘so many rural areas and towns are simply left behind’.
→ The Telegraph – Let’s reboot ‘left-behind’ Britain with a turbo-charged broadband revolution
Boris Johnson pledges to tackle digital divide – Rural Services Network
However, the reality in Devon is not so promising, as reported today on BBC Spotlight:
Superfast broadband firm given rescue plan deadline
The company awarded the publicly-subsidised contract to deliver superfast broadband to thousands of rural homes in Devon and Somerset has been given a deadline to come up with a rescue plan for the programme. Last September, Gigaclear admitted the project was facing significant delays and was two years behind schedule.
Connecting Devon and Somerset, the organisation in charge of the whole project, stopped paying Gigaclear nine months ago. It has told the firm it must come up with acceptable plans by the end of July to fulfill the contract.
Rural broadband still a dream for many – and will remain one