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

Aggregating Demand

One 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.