A recent report by the Commission for Rural Communities said action is needed to ensure that those living in rural areas of the UK are not left on broadband slow land. For BBC story, click here. The report called the Mind the Gap - Digital England, a rural perspective report lays out recommendations to ensure rural areas keep pace with urban areas. The report calls for
more help to be given to community-based broadband schemes.The report also
Alternative investment models need to be explored to ensure fast networks are rolled out in the country-side.
laid out the government's strategy for broadband - announced a telephone tax to fund next-generation networks in rural areas.The plan pledges to provide at least 2 Mbdps to all UK homes by 2012. The report finds many areas are struggling with internet speeds below 2 Mbdps.
The report does have some critics who question the viability of a 50p a month tax on all households with a landline as economically viable. But the report does show the effects broadband in rural areas would have on the UK economy. The report finds
that one third of people working from home live in rural areas. The government is keen to promote home working as a response to road congestion and global warming.
It also highlights how broadband services can be used by older people to improve the quality of the lives and offer access to government and health services.
A decent infrastructure would create more rural entrepreneurs which in turn could aid economic recovery, the report said.
The report is the rural contribution to a larger report entitled "Digital Britain," to view the report click here.
For a recent blog posting, focusing on the need for rural broadband in the US, click here.
Posted: 06/23/09
