Councils of North Devon and Torridge Ask for Broadband Backing

A set of south-west councils have started an opinion poll to determine the requirement of quicker broadband facilities in their localities.

People residing in and having businesses in the south-west regions are being requested to sign up to exhibit their enthusiasm, via a campaign that would last for about a month, for availing faster broadband accessibility.

The objective of the scheme that has been pioneered by the councils of Devon and Somerset is to urge the residents of these areas to fill up a questionnaire that could be utilized by the local offices to reveal the intensity of demand for super-fast broadband accessibility in these regions.

The venture Entitled to Keep up Speed, Get Connected is being backed by offices like the District Council of Torridge and North Devon and would be a part of the area’s plans to obtain significant grants from the state for it prospective broadband plans.

The government had assigned an amount of around 50 million pounds to Devon and Somerset via their division called the Broadband Delivery UL, however even the councils have to obtain matching funds through private investments if their strategies are to bear fruit. Such that they can win the support of the telecommunication companies, the local offices have to provide proof to reveal that the need for quicker broadband is high amongst the people residing in the region.

According to Ofcom statistics only 4 % of Somerset can benefit from super-fast broadband facilities.

The survey which will continue till 29th February of the current year consists of questions regarding the present speeds of broadband, the services that are bothered by slow connectivity and the online facilities that a user would make use of if they receive the high speed broadband connection.

As per those councils who are part of this venture, a minimum of 10,000 replies to the questionnaire would be required if the venture is to be termed successful.

Leader of the north Devon Council, Brian Greenslade, said that it was a never to be repeated chance for the towns and the businesses to air their views regarding the facilities that they require.

The Torridge District Council Boss, Barry Parsons also said that it was imperative that they got as many numbers of people and businesses firms to fill up the questionnaire. He said that they needed to create an image about which the areas worst hit were and what the quantum of demand for faster broadband facilities were in those regions.