Aggregating Demand
Aug 5, 2020One of the challenges in getting any project off the ground is
getting enough people interested. The Government has recently come up with a
registration process (https://broadband-upgrade-fund.campaign.gov.uk/about)
designed to help this and increase take up in the three rural areas covered by
the Broadband Upgrade Fund: part of its Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme.
Cumbria is one of the areas which qualifies for these Rural Gigabit Connectivity
Vouchers.
So should you register? possibly – but it’s no substitute for
local community action in generating the enthusiasm and drive to get the project
done. My hunch is that it will not result in economically viable close
geographical groupings. Also although the steps described on the site give the
impression that there are a number of Broadband suppliers queuing up to build a
full fibre network, in practice in our area, the only game in town is Openreach.
My pitch is that to get a viable project off the ground will
require word of mouth and local community action. Then, in our case, to deal
directly with Openreach by registering under their Community Fibre Partnership
scheme. This is the route we have gone down in Colton and it’s now been made
easier as I’ve described in earlier posts.
Under normal circumstances, I’d see a meeting coming on over
coffee (or whatever tipple takes your fancy) and biscuits. This isn’t viable at
the moment but if anyone is interested – particularly in Bouth and Oxen Park –
where overbuilding is a possibility, I’ll host a short Zoom meeting 7 pm
Monday 10th August. I’ll cover the steps necessary to bring a viable
Community Fibre Project to fruition in a short presentation and try to answer
any questions which arise.
To join send me an email on mike@mpo1.uk let me know which part of the Parish you are and I'll send you a link.