2016-01-29 |
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Make Broadband Equality Pledge a Reality for Rural Areas
The Chancellor should use The Budget in March to turn the Prime Minister’s broadband equality pledge from promise to reality, says the organisation that represents rural businesses.
In its Budget submission, the CLA has urged Government to kick-start delivery of the Universal Service Obligation of at least 10Mbps. The Prime Minister committed in November 2015 to putting this USO in place, following a long-running CLA campaign.
CLA
President Ross Murray said:
“The Prime Minister’s commitment
to a Universal Service Obligation of 10Mbps was a major victory
for the tens of thousands of rural businesses and communities that
have been disadvantaged by poor or non-existent broadband for far
too long. However we are still waiting for clarity on the framework
for the USO and how it will be delivered in practice. We want to
see the wheels really set in motion in The Chancellor’s Budget
in March.
“Good broadband for every home and business under the new USO will not happen overnight, and many rural community groups and businesses are having to make their own investments out of necessity to get connected. Taking the initiative in this way should be encouraged and we would like to see plans for match funding or tax incentives included in The Budget.”
