News Release

29th September 2003

CAMPAIGN FOR BROADBAND IN 'REMOTE' AREAS LIKE STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS

Following success in getting BT exchanges enabled for broadband, Michael Fabricant is now calling on villagers in the midlands who cannot be supplied broadband by BT phone line because of the relative remoteness of their location, to form action groups and investigate alternative technologies.

"This is not as hard as it may seem" says Michael Fabricant. "Villages like Abbots Bromley in my constituency are too far from a telephone exchange to make broadband by telephone line possible. But there are alternative technologies now available.

"With the rural economy now really suffering, broadband provides a business opportunity to revitalise smaller villages. Although BT will eventually be able to provide broadband to 90% of the population, many would argue that the remaining 10% are in the most desperate need.

"I recently attended a Conference in London organised by The Countryside Agency who have produced an excellent guide on how to bring broadband into areas where BT cannot. I met people from the Yorkshire Dales who had set up a wireless broadband system and others who had cabled an area for themselves.

"I strongly recommend that anyone interested in exploring how to get Broadband in areas where a BT service is not on the cards should order, free of charge, 'Broadband in Rural Area' (CA 148) published by The Countryside Agency. The report is the result of a review of 13 early community broadband projects in England. It identifies best practice by communities, local authorities and individual businesses to overcome the lack of broadband services in villages, small towns and rural business parks. Copies can be obtained by either calling 01242 521381 or by logging onto http://www.countryside.gov.uk