BT SHOULD FOLLOW EUROPE'S BROADBAND LEAD - Mick Bates (Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats)

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Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats <montlibdems@gmail.com>

BT SHOULD FOLLOW EUROPE'S BROADBAND LEAD - Mick Bates

September 30, 2008 12:00 AM

Mick Bates, Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire has welcomed the news that the European Commission are considering expanding the Telecommunications Universal Service Obligation (USO) to include access to broadband.

The EC reviews the USO every three years, and once a telecoms service is being used by more than half of the population it must form part of the service to which everyone is guaranteed.

Currently, about 36% of EU households have a broadband connection, but uptake is growing so quickly that the review is being brought forward to meet the Commission's stated aim of all EU citizens having broadband access by 2010.

Commenting, Mick Bates said:

"The high take-up of broadband across Europe is evidence that it is becoming an increasing necessity for many people, and particularly for businesses.

"In some of our villages the post office, banks and shops are already gone and Councils are trying to cut back on services such as community halls and libraries. In rural areas particularly, broadband is needed to combat the increasing sense of isolation as local services are eroding. This was proven recently by the news that rural broadband take-up had for the first time overtaken that of urban areas.

"Many areas in Montgomeryshire and Mid Wales still do not have access to broadband, and the Commission's policy of broadband for all by 2010 means that BT can not afford to sit on their hands and make excuses. Many of the communities outside Newtown and villages such as Dolanog, cannot access to broadband through the telecom network. Forcing these communities to alternative technolgies will only further the rural divide making it more costly to rural consumers.

"The next generation of super-fast broadband should remove many of the technological barriers to broadband that exist and current 'notspots' should be prioritised in the roll-out of the new fibre optic service to fill in the gaps.

"I hope that the European Commission will recognise the growing importance of broadband and will recommend that it forms part of the USO, but also that BT recognise that whatever the USO says, universal access will be a requirement in the not too distant future."

End / Diwedd