ÖPIK CONTINUES TO FIGHT FOR RURAL BROADBAND (Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats)

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Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats <montlibdems@gmail.com>

ÖPIK CONTINUES TO FIGHT FOR RURAL BROADBAND

October 15, 2008 5:31 PM

Following last week's meeting with local residents, Lembit Öpik, Liberal Democrat MP for Montgomeryshire, has continued to put pressure on BT to extend broadband provision to all rural areas.

Commenting, he said:

"The present discrimination against rural inhabitants in the provision of broadband must stop. At a time when the whole world is trying to get onto the information superhighway, a lot of my constituents can't even get onto a digital dirt track. And it's not even logical. There are houses, side by side, in villages like White Grit where one house has Broadband and their neighbours are told to forget any chance of getting it.

"In reality we know broadband is becoming a necessity for modern life, the high take up across Britain proves it. My particular concern is for those people gradually being cut off from precious facilities through the closure of their local services, such as the post office, who desperately need broadband to overcome this but can't access it.

"I have written again to BT asking them to address the situation, and I hope to be hearing from them soon. It should be little short of a basic right to have this service. I don't intend to let my constituents struggle on without it for much longer."

Ends/diwedd

Notes to editor:

Please see below for the text of Lembit's letter:

Mr Lawrence Vousden

British Telecommunications plc

81 Newgate Street

London

EC1A 7AJ

6th October 2008

Dear Mr Vousden,

My thanks for your letter of 22nd August regarding my constituent, Mrs Trott and her concerns regarding the availability of broadband in the area.

Today I went to meet with the residents of White Grit at Mrs Trott's home to discuss their broadband problems. The issue has become increasingly frustrating. I find it utterly ludicrous that my constituent cannot get access to broadband, when her neighbour, who lives only a matter of yards away, has a perfect connection.

It turns out that there are at least 5 people in White Grit who cannot get broadband, all of whom are desperate for broadband access. If you were to come and see for your self the distances between the houses that do and don't have broadband I'm certain you would be as frustrated as I am. I find it very difficult to believe that BT is unable to deliver the service because of the distance from the server.

I would be most grateful if we could organise a site visit so you or one of your colleague can see the problem for yourselves. My office would be more than happy to facilitate this. I really do hope that this meeting will be forthcoming, my thanks for your time, I look forward to reading your reply.

All the best for now,

Lembit Öpik MP