The chairman of the Broadband Stakeholder Group has urged people who don't have access to affordable high-speed Internet access to take matters into their own hands.
Speaking at the Rural and Regional Broadband conference in London on Wednesday, Keith Todd warned that a pro-active approach was needed to close the broadband divide. "People must not just accept the status quo. Don't just complain and sit back; complain and take action," said Todd, who claimed he is playing the role of a revolutionary in senior circles.
"We need revolutionaries at the grass roots as well," Todd insisted, pointing out that a good first step would be to register one's interest in getting ADSL by using BT's broadband pre-registration scheme. Community wireless networking is a major focus of the Rural and Regional Broadband conference, which has been organised by the Access to Broadband Campaign. Many in the industry believe that technologies such as 802.11b will play a key role in the rollout of broadband to existing coverage black spots.
A significant number of wireless broadband networks are being rolled out in different parts of the UK, in areas as diverse as Cumbria, Northern Ireland, rural Devon and Anglesey. The Anglesey network has been created by Groupe Pathfinder. Mike Parker, chief technology officer for Groupe Pathfinder, backed up the view that individual consumers and businesses should take a "DIY" approach rather than simply waiting for a telco to eventually offer them a broadband service. "You've got to take the B&Q method and get out and do it yourself," Parker told the conference audience.
Talkback
As someone who lives in a Rural area, and who is UNLIKEY in the near future or IF ever to have access to broadband, I would like to ask WHY BT charge Rural people the same line rental, and call charges as they do those who can and do receive NOT only Broadband, but other services such as Call waiting, and 151..
We are not even privileged with these updates from BT....
We pay the same going rate, so we SHOULD get the same service.....
It is time the TRIGGER levels were disbanded, and BT were made to upgrade ALL of the exchanges they have, as it is ALL of the people who PAY for the use of the BT service, NOT just the CITY and large towns folk....
After all, the other draw back to living in a rural area is that we ARE STUCK with BT.......
Surely it is time to treat all of there customers as ONE, and spend some of the profits they have reaped over the years on updating what is utterly OUT of date exchanges.
IF not, then the government should be stepping in, and making sure that there is NO discrimination against them that earn a living working in Rural countryside...
We already pay through the nose in higher shop prices, and dearer petrol costs.
When is someone going to realise that we are TAX payers also, and NOT Aliens........
I would just like to respond to Keith Todd's comments......with a BIG agreement!
We live in a small rural village in Lancashire, that was missed by the various cable companies (although all of the surrounding areas are 'cabled'!) and the hope of having our local exchange 'broadband-enabled' seemed a distant dream.
Although we only have 1800 households and were (initially at least) set a trigger level of 400, we reached our trigger level within 4-5 months - we now have over 440 pre-registrations!
All it took was an attitude of 'you're not leaving us out...again!' and a bit of leg work and now we'll have broadband on October the 8th.
I must say that I am tired of hearing the same old 'British' whinging! People want things, but are not prepared to stand up and shout for them.
If you live in an area that doesn't have broadband and you want it - go out and get it! Setup a campaign, get your local MP involved, get the local press and businesses involved and DO speak with BT! Make some NOISE! BT gave us a lot of support with leaflets, posters, stickers and numerous other marketing materials to help us generate awareness firstly (which is sadly missing in a lot of rural areas), then desire to pre-register. Its not difficult!
So, my advice..........stop complaining and get on your soap-box!
Born Londoner I upped sticks and re-located to Rural Leicestershire (on the RUtland/Lincolnshire border)...my only option for high speed internet access being Satelite. Interesting, thought I, being the MD of a PTT boasting to my better half how I woudl strap a STM1 Microwave dish to the side of the house when we went to view it!
Time pased, Monday 5th Feb 2004 arrived, and we finally got clearance to upgrade our net connection utilising Band C.
I am currently working with local communities to bring "ultra high bandidth" into Rural Leicestershire/Rutland communities. These projects are funded entirely in-house - particularly as my company focus's on international SDH/ATM and IP transmission.
If anyone is interested in installing value added ultra-high-speed rural broadband networks within their community we woudl be happy to fund it entirely - and we believe that we can achieve it very swiftly (within 2 months of site appraisal) and at a cost not disimmilar to terrestrial ADSL - but at upto 20Mbps per household bursts (and full-duplex). Our triggers are also very low, and being in touch with our local community developing this system has given us a unique inside view on the pro's and con's.
Anyway, ranintg on wasn't inrended...if anyone gets to read this I can be contacted on 0845 665 0 114, and more info on my company can be found at http://www.wire9.com.
Lee Jones
Director
Wire9 Telecom PLC
lee@wire9.com