News Release

5th December 2003

BROADBAND ROADSHOW COMES TO LICHFIELD

Advantage West Midlands and BT came to Lichfield on Friday 5th December and Saturday 6th December to demonstrate the 'Power of Broadband': especially its advantages for smaller businesses and those who work from home. A display was set up at the Lichfield District Tourist Information Office in Donegal House, Bore Street in Lichfield. Michael Fabricant assisted by handing out cards in Bore Street, Lichfield inviting people to register their interest in broadband.

Much of the Lichfield Parliamentary constituency is now broadband enabled and even Abbots Bromley which previously was regarded as too small has now had a 'trigger level' set by BT. If just 150 people register their interest in broadband without any commitment to purchase the service, Abbots Bromley will have its exchange enabled. So far 81 have registered an interest. Alrewas has just reached its trigger level and will soon be equipped for broadband, Armitage has 204 registered out of 250, and just 22 more people need to register in Whittington to reach their trigger level of 150 registrations. The 'Power of Broadband' roadshow aims to demonstrate the advantages of broadband as well as encourage people to mount local campaigns to get people to register.

"Our rural economy has been shattered over the last few years. Broadband enables people to diversify into many different areas of business activity. My aim is to see the whole of my Lichfield constituency from Abbots Bromley in the north to Lichfield in the south wired for the 21st century. We are already a long way down that track." says Michael Fabricant.