Get Superfast Broadband Project Launches 6 February Why You Should Complete and Return the Questionnaire You Receive
Connecting Devon and Somerset wants to help local residents and businesses get superfast broadband.
It wants to provide everyone with 100% broadband coverage of 2Mbps with a minimum of 85% superfast broadband at 24Mbps by 2015 and superfast broadband for all by 2020.
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Devon Needs Superfast Broadband
It's launching its campaign on 6 February 2012 and you will receive information by direct mail.
You will be asked to respond to a survey which asks about your current online activity.
Questions will include your current broadband speeds, how much you would be prepared to pay and what you think about getting faster speeds.
The project is being run by Somerset County Council and Devon County Council alongside North Somerset Council, Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council.
The councils require at least 10,000 replies.
The project has received £31 million from the government agency Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and Somerset and Devon County Council are each providing £10 million.
Councillor Will Mumford, Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Strategic Planning for Devon County Council said:
'We need everyone to get behind us on this.
'Although we have up to £51 million already, we must secure further investment from the private sector.
'To do this we need to provide evidence that there is a strong demand for superfast broadband.
'It's the only way we will reach many rural areas and market towns.'
'It really is a call to arms.
'If we don't have the evidence, we can't convince commercial suppliers to go into partnership with us.
'This has real implications for economic growth and the comepetitiveness of our businesses as well as our ability to provide services.'
Ofcom say currently nearly 18% of premises in Devon are getting less than 2 Mbps and only 17% of the county can get superfast broadband.
It's therefore in the interests of all Barnstaple residents to make the effort to fill in the questionnaires and return them promptly.
3 Comments
by the_brief
Monday, February 27 2012, 11:25AM
“The superfast broadband survey deadline's been extended to mid-March. Some 8,800 people have responded so far but £10,000 are needed to convince businesses that we really want and need superfast broadband here. Don't forget to complete the survey if you haven't so far - we're so near now!”
by Buzzy_Biddy
Monday, February 13 2012, 12:47PM
“Good to see the survey has had £2,500 responses in the first 4 days. Devon County Councillor Will Mumford has said: 'We are thrilled with the response so far'. We can't rest on our laurels though - at least £10,000 local people need to reply for us to get the superfast broadband.
It's a short survey and you can complete with above link online or telephone 0844 463 6887 if you prefer. You've got until 29 February.”
by cumbiebob
Saturday, February 04 2012, 9:10AM
“Might have been nice to add the link http://tinyurl.com/7mug8qv for people”