Colton Superfast Broadband Why it's important and how we can get it......Mike Postle (mike@mpo1.uk)

First Steps

Nov 18, 2013

Some useful infomation came out of the meeting between Connecting Cumbria Reps and ourselves last week.

Firstly it was confirmed that under current projections, 70% of the 460 properties in the Parish are expected to get SFBB; the remaining 140 properties are projected to get somewhere between 2 Mb/s and below the 24 Mb/s of SFBB. Given that I'm guessing that most of us would settle for anything between 10 and 15 Mb/s, it may well mean that well under 140 properties will get an acceptable speed anyway.

Incidentally, any property connected to fibre via a mile or less of copper is likely to get SFBB. BT are expecting this distance to increase over the life of the project as the technology improves.

We spent some time looking at likely scenarios. What's clear is that the project - as far as rural broadband goes- is still very much in a fluid stage.There's certainly not enough detail to do any planning as far as community build goes but there is a chance to influence Connecting Cumbria priorities. In particular, if a large number of people in a neighbourhood signify their interest, it may make a difference as to which cabinets are fibre connected under the project. The more cabinets we can get connected, the less we have to do under any community build heading.

Three likely 'community build' scenarios were outlined:

  • Stimulate demand and negotiate/make the financial case under Connecting Cumbria  to fibre enable a cabinet. (Best)
  • ‘Self Dig’ scenario where wayleaves and ducting sorted at community level.
  • ·More complex individualised solutions including third party solutions.

The more we can get under the first scenario, the less it will demand in terms of finance and management of any community build.

And timescales? We've been told that it is unlikely that we will have SFBB in the Parish before 2015 but let's keep the momentum and see if we can improve on this.

Registration of interest - a change

Nov 15, 2013

At our meeting yesterday (report to follow), it was again made clear that the number of people registering their interest in having superfast broadband, will influence the current planning – which is still at a fluid stage. Connecting Cumbria have taken down their registration form so as not to duplicate information. If you haven’t registered your interest you can do it on   www.superfast-openreach.co.uk/expression-gen.aspx

Encourage your neighbours to do so as well! Remember registration does not commit you and it may well make a real difference to the connectivity we get in the Parish.

Connecting Colton Parish: Preliminary Discussions To Be Held.

Nov 1, 2013

Progress is being made in spite of the issues outlined in my last post. Following the strong expression of interest that the Parish has made, Colin Barr and myself will meet the Connecting Cumbria team and other representatives on the 14th November. This initial meeting will explore the issues around bringing superfast broadband (SFBB) to the Parish and how to get the best connectivity if it becomes clear that SFBB is not an option for some premises (The so called ‘Community Build’ option). The meeting aims to define the sort of information and support that we can expect from the CCC project, how we will continue to engage residents in the Parish and to explore likely scenarios for local schemes.

I am given to understand that detailed mapping data will not be available at this meeting but not withstanding this, the meeting will provide all of us with a real opportunity to start the process of getting much better connectivity into our homes and businesses.

I’ll report on the outcomes of the meeting but in the meantime, please do all you can to stimulate demand by getting folks to register their interest with BT and Connecting Cumbria. 

 

Oh what a tangled web we weave……

Nov 1, 2013
 
 
 

We now have fascinating – but not necessarily illuminating – documents relating the ongoing saga of the forbidden information. Those of you who followed the links to the Public Accounts Committee hearing from my earlier posting will know that BT’s Director of Strategy gave evidence that BT did not object to local authorities publishing information on roll out plans for superfast broadband (SFBB).

 

Well the reality on the ground has proved otherwise with the SFBB roll-out information being as elusive as ever. That’s not to say that there has been any shortage of activity - with letters flying to and fro.  (If you are in a hurry, skip the detail and go to the final paragraph!)

 

We have:

·         Tim Farron putting these concerns in a letter to BT’s then Chief Executive  – Ian Livingston.

·         BT’s Director of Public Affairs replying saying that they were surprised at the suggestion that that they are preventing Cumbria from publishing mapping information and offering to talk to Cumbria.

·         The Chair of the Public Accounts Committee – Margaret Hodge – replying to the Chair of the Cumbria Hub Coordinators’ Group – sharing her frustration at the lack of transparency and signalling that her committee’s forthcoming report will make this issue a central theme.

·         Cumbria CC’s cabinet member for economic development, David Southward, writing to Margaret Hodge expressing his frustration that although they have access to detailed information, they are being prevented from making this public. He makes, in my view, the very valid point that it is difficult to understand how the information is commercially sensitive when we are having to use public money precisely because there is no commercial market for SFBB in rural areas.

 

To add to the paper trail, we have

·         A report in Computer Weekly that the County Council has said that both BT and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport  have ordered it not to publish detailed information on the roll out plans.  Read it at: www.computerweekly.com/news/2240207856/BT-and-Whitehall-tell-council-to-keep-BDUK-postcodes-quiet?utm_content=buffere8eaa&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer

·         The publication of the contract between BT and Cumbria County Council but don’t get too excited: with the number of redacted paragraphs making it impossible to get any really useful information from it. (The spooks at MI5 couldn’t have done a better job). (Follow the last link on  www.connectingcumbria.org.uk/questions-and-answers)

 

So why, apart from debates about the use of (our) public money and accountability, does all this matter?

 

It matters because at a community level we are unable to get the information required to determine what action (if any) we need to take to bring the best Broadband connectivity to our homes and businesses.

Time, I think, for us collectively and individually to make our views known and break through this rather opaque tangled web…..

 

 

 

Expanding the 93% - Some practical steps you could take now

Sep 26, 2013

As we’ve remarked before, the target coverage of Superfast Broadband (SSBB) in Cumbria is 93%. The rural nature of our Parish means that this planned coverage drops to 70%.

So how to get the best deal? According to Connecting Cumbria, if we can stimulate the demand for SSBB, then we could end up with more properties being connected. You can do this by:

Summer is over…….

Sep 26, 2013

 

 ……..and we’ve come out of hibernation for Autumn!

A ‘thank you’ for all 65 of you in the Parish who came to one of the three meetings held over the Summer. It was good to meet everyone and start to work together on bringing this important resource – superfast broadband (SFBB) – into our community.

Thank you also to those of you who said you were prepared to act as a local contact point. You probably will not hear from me for a bit and then – when we know that the local exchanges and cabinets will be fibre enabled for superfast broadband - there will be a flurry of activity so we can make the most of this infrastructure so it benefits every house/business in the area.

Here’s what’s been going on…….

  • Newby Bridge exchange has now got a date when it is planned to be fibre enabled: end of 2015. The other exchanges which serve our parish are shown as subject to planning & survey work: no dates for completion yet. Follow progress on www.connectingcumbria.org.uk/when-and-where

 

  • The row about BT using its monopoly position continues to rumble on. On a local level, this means that BT is still preventing the County Council from  releasing the mapping information it wants to release. This of course in spite of the Public Accounts Committee being told by BT that it had no objection to the release of information. The soap opera continues ……..

 

  • We have formally registered an interest in discussing community build with the connecting Cumbria team to get the best deal for the currently 30% of premises not scheduled to get SFBB. The current position is that information on when each cabinet will be fibre enabled will only be released 6 months in advance of work taking place. It is clearly best to plan any community build in this six month window – hence my comment about there needing to be a flurry of activity when work is planned.

 

  • BT has reported the trialling of some new technology that would give some good options for the 7% of the County not currently scheduled to get SFBB. (For the technically minded this involves both ADSL regenerators and 4g). More updates to follow.

 

 

 

 

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Aug 8, 2013

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Good Job it was Sunny!

Aug 3, 2013

It was good to see 33 folks turn up at the first of our three Parish meetings on getting Superfast Broadband - so many in fact that we decided to hold an open air meeting on the terrace at the Manor. Thanks to all for helpful comments and suggestions - much appreciated.

Many of you filled in a paper based form at the time which will enable us to keep personal contact with you and to involve you as the planning and then the actual rollout takes place. For those who prefer to use an on line form, if you click on the link below, you'll find one.

http://postleorg.coffeecup.com/forms/13-08-02%20Colton%20Broadband%20questionaire/

A reminder that the other two meetings we have planned are:

7 pm Wednesday 7th August at the Farmers Arms, Lowick (01229 861 2770

7 pm Thursday 8th August at the Lakeside Hotel, Lakeside (015395 30001

Thanks to these venues for letting us have these facilities free for our community use. Phone numbers in case you want to book a meal and make an evening of it.

See you there!

 

Meet at the Manor

Jul 31, 2013

A reminder that the first of our three Parish meetings about bringing Superfast Broadband to Colton will be at the Manor, Oxen Park tomorrow (Thursday 1st August) starting 7 pm and lasting about an hour.

See how Superfast Broadband could benefit homes and businesses in the area, catch up with developments so far and help to provide a further push to making the most of this not-to-be-missed opportunity. 

Why not stay for a drink afterwards or book a meal at the Manor? (861 345)

Our grateful thanks to the management of the Manor for giving these facilities free of charge for our community use.   

The Curious Case of the Disappearing Maps

Jul 27, 2013

or Sir Humphry and the Vampire Death Squid.

 

Back at the beginning of this month, we were told to anticipate the imminent publication of some maps. These would provide a very rough indication of the planned location of areas which would get superfast broadband. Now, apparently, these are not going to be released.

Who or what is preventing their publication remains a mystery. The County Council has said that it is BT which is preventing publication: commercial sensitivity and the fact that the maps are only a first stab at coverage and are likely to change – are cited as reasons.

Cumbria is not the only council in this position and it created a bit of a row at the hearing of the Commons Public Accounts Committee on July 17th.

What a fascinating glimpse into the world of the Civil Service and the exercise of commercial monopoly the transcript provides!  [Bedtime reading on: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmpubacc/uc474-i/uc47401.htm ]

Perhaps the most extraordinary turn of events was when Sean Williams, BT Director of Strategy, gave evidence that BT did not object to local authorities publishing local information and that this was a matter for individual local authorities.

Not-withstanding this, at local level, it appears that BT is still blocking the publication of the maps.

So at the moment, the procedure is the one we have followed to date: registration of our Parish’s interest and getting back a Parish average SSBB coverage. This kick starts the community engagement process as the detailed roll-out takes place.

I don’t think for a moment that this is the last word on the matter as there is definitively a political head of steam building…………

Oh - and the sub title to this piece - well that's the bedtime reading. Anyone fancy drawing a cartoon?  (to mike@postle.co)

 

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