Letter: Council must follow lead on broadband
The recent 'broadbad' (sic) report on the problems bedevilling rural connectivity that 121 MPs endorsed, including three from Shropshire, has brought some useful extra publicity to an issue that's so important to counties such as this.
But it's disappointing when MPs get the wrong end of the stick. Although Mark Pritchard MP is certainly on the right lines when he says that we need a fully fibre network, he fails to appreciate that even if Ofcom does recommend splitting Openreach from the main BT group, that could take years and be subject to intense legal battles.
Opening up the network is necessary now and is perfectly possible right now using proven alternatives to BT that bring 1 Gb (yes, 1Gb!) directly to the premises, plus millions of pounds of additional European investment. Bolder local authorities have already done this – South Gloucestershire, West Oxfordshire, Essex, West Berkshire. Herefordshire is seriously considering it.
More will follow and an announcement from Government this week strongly encourages councils to act in this way. Connecting Shropshire and all elected members have known about this approach all along but so far have rejected it, preferring to play safe with BT.
Shropshire Council still has to tender for a whopping tranche of additional rural roll-out. Let's hope they do something right this time and don't lose out on those European millions to more adventurous authorities.
Patrick Cosgrove, Bucknell
Send us your letters for publication:
Email us at starmail@shropshirestar.co.uk or write to: Readers' Letters, Shropshire Star, Ketley, Telford, TF1 5HU. Letters MUST include the writer's name, address and telephone number. Letters will only be published anonymously in exceptional circumstances. The editor reserves the right to condense or amend letters.
