Professional AdviceYou are here : News and Press » Latest Releases » Broadband » Broadband
|
CLA welcomes Lords’ recognition that broadband access is more important than speedThe CLA has welcomed recognition from the House of Lords that broadband access for all "should be a guiding principle" rather 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 Deputy President Henry Robinson 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.
"Recognition by the Lords Committee that access is more important than speed is extremely welcome."
Mr Robinson 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 Robinson 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."
Read "Broadband for all – an alternative vision" the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications 1st Report of Session 2012-13. |
Contact Dr Charles Trotman
Join the CLA today
The CLA Game Fair 2013
Partnership Opportunities Discover how a corporate partnership with the CLA could help your business. More articles and documents [News Archive] [24 September 2012] GN01-13 Rural Broadband Wayleaves [Guidance notes] [6 February 2013] |
An economist, advises on rural economic issues, particularly food policy, rural tourism, equine issues and telecommunications policy. 
- Policy Topics
- Policy Topics
- Site sections
- Specially for members
© 2013 Country Land and Business Association Limited (CLA). All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored in any retrieval system of any nature without prior written permission of the copyright holder except as expressly permitted by law.
Disclaimer
No responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action in reliance on or as a result of the material included in or omitted in this website can be or is accepted by the author(s), the CLA or its officers or trustees or employees or any other persons.
The Advisory Services are made available to members on the basis that members' rights to compensation and the liability (if any) of CLA and its officers and/or its staff advisers, are restricted in the following ways. In the event of any advice given by any CLA staff adviser being given negligently or otherwise being incorrect no liability whatsoever is accepted by the CLA or its officers or by its staff advisers concerned
(a) towards any person who is not the current CLA member to whom the advice was directly given,
(b) to any person in the respect of consequential loss or loss of profits, or
(c) to any person for any sum exceeding £50,000 in respect of any one enquiry (whether made or responded to orally or in writing and whether dealt with at one time or over a period of time).
Any person making use of the Advisory Services accepts such restrictions. Members should refer to appropriate professional advisers in private practice before taking any particular course of action potentially or actually involving any substantial amounts of money.
Please note that whilst the advisers are able to advise on a wide range of subjects relating to land ownership, they cannot act in place of a member's own solicitor, accountant, surveyor and tax specialist by, for example, drafting documents or corresponding on their behalf and may be precluded, by the rules of their own professions, from advising one CLA member against another CLA member in the case of conflict.
Solicitors Indemnity Fund . Solicitors in the CLA Legal Team are not covered by the Solicitors Indemnity Fund in relation to professional negligence in relation to any advice given by them.
Please note that from time to time telephone calls maybe recorded for training purposes.