Rural Broadband

The CLA has campaigned over the past decade for all rural areas to gain effective and affordable broadband. In that time, the CLA has been instrumental in placing the issue of rural broadband firmly on the political agenda.

To boost the pace of change, the CLA has now published its vision on broadband, setting out a number of recommendations for the Government and the telecommunications industry to take on board. Download the CLA Policy report: Broadband Fit for Rural Growth: CLA Vision for Rural Broadband

Other CLA Broadband articles

• Latest news releases
• Policy reports
• Advisory handbooks
• Guidance notes

New Defra broadband film for businesses

Organisation: Countryside Alliance

Source: Press Releases

Date: 01.05.13

Defra has produced a short film in which small businesses talk about their experience and success in using broadband to help grow their business, in order to encourage other small businesses to follow suit. The video supports the wider Government infrastructure programme to make faster speed broadband available to over 90% of the population, especially in rural areas.

The video, embedded below, had its first public outing at the FSB Conference in Leicester today, when Environment Secretary Owen Paterson addressed the business community. The video might be a helpful tool for many businesses to think about the possibilities.

The film is available here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lQE-DOZnTY8

Effective and affordable broadband connectivity is vital in providing the economic and social stimulus needed in rural areas. The CLA makes a number of recommendations to ensure that broadband is available to all by 2015 as well as being fit for purpose.

Universal coverage

It is essential that the Government’s objective for everyone to have access to two Mbps by 2015 is met. The public needs the legal assurance that it will receive these speeds.

The CLA calls on the Government to begin work on putting in place an effective framework to implement a Universal Service Obligation by 2015.

Competition within the bidding process

It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure that the deadline of 2015 for putting into effect a superfast broadband network is delivered. This means that local authorities need to work with successful infrastructure providers to ensure that deadlines are met and that rural areas receive the same quality of service.

The CLA calls on local authorities to ensure that contracts awarded to infrastructure providers include fair compensation provisions for any failure to meet time and coverage requirements. In addition, payments to infrastructure providers must be performance-related to ensure a fast and effective broadband service is rolled out to rural areas.

Strategic alliances

Broadband is an all-embracing policy debate. This means that all affected trade associations need to work together to influence Government policy. The CLA calls on other like-minded trade associations to work with the CLA to agree a series of common objectives and to put in place a strategy so that the undoubted benefits of the broadband revolution can be delivered to all.

The future needs of rural areas

Broadband technology is constantly changing. This is the case for both the public and private sectors. Rural communities should be allowed access to public sector broadband through community initiatives so that it is available to all, irrespective of their geographic location.

The CLA calls on Government to provide an appropriate framework to allow rural communities to “piggy-back” onto public sector broadband.

The CLA recognises the importance of Defra’s Rural Community Broadband Fund in trying to meet the needs of the 10 percent of rural areas which will not benefit from access to the superfast broadband network. However, we do not believe that the current structure employed is working for the needs of rural areas.

The CLA calls on Defra to look again at the implementation and structure of the Rural Community Broadband Fund to ensure more businesses have access to the available funding.

Broadband - Latest news releases

CLA and NFU agreement paves way for superfast rural broadband
The digital divide narrowed today (10 January) after the CLA and NFU finalised a new agreement that will bring rural broadband one step closer.
[15 January 2013]

CLA marks 10 years of campaigning with big push for broadband in all rural areas
The CLA today (24 September) launched a policy paper on rural broadband to mark 10 years of lobbying for everyone in rural areas to benefit from an effective and affordable broadband connection.
[21 September 2012]

CLA backs Miller on broadband infrastructure
The CLA today (7 September 2012) supported new Culture Secretary Maria Miller’s acknowledgement that the regulatory burdens hampering broadband infrastructure should be removed.
[7 September 2012]

More broadband news releases

Broadband - Policy reports

Broadband Fit for Rural Growth: CLA Vision for Rural Broadband
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has been campaigning for effective, reliable and affordable broadband for all rural areas since 2002. In the past 10 years, the CLA has become the main national organisation to champion the issue of rural...
[24 September 2012]

Broadband - Advisory handbooks

CLA60 - Broadband in rural areas
Information Technology (IT) is now accepted as being fundamental to the growth and success of businesses, especially in rural areas. Internet access and email have changed the way we work and broadband is regarded by many as a vital component for ...
[1 May 2011]

Broadband - Guidance notes

GN01-13 Rural Broadband Wayleaves
This Guidance Note offers advice to landowners as to the background to the need for rural wayleaves in order to roll out broadband to the final 1/3 of the rural area that is currently hard to reach.  There are also attached agreements for the...
[6 February 2013]