The government will be forced to withdraw broadband fund

Jeremy Hunt, the cultural secretary has instructed the local county council authorities to sign the broadband contract by February 29 of the year. Otherwise the government will be forced to withdraw their share out of the GBP 530 million government fund earmarked for the super-fast broadband plan.

He is alarmed that the local authorities are taking things leisurely. He warned that they will have to face the consequences if they delay the deployment of broadband plans of the government.

Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) is in charge of distribution of the fund set aside by the government to ensure super-fast broadband access to 90% of the country population by 2015.

Golden Valley in Herefordshire, North Yorkshire, Cumbria, Highlands and Island are some of the rural areas which will be provided amount ranging between GBP 5 million and GBP 10 million to adopt the latest fiber technology for the purpose.

The government has sanctioned the amount with a view to fulfill the needs of the subjects as well as improve the economy of the country. But if the local authorities do not come forward to participate in the initiative, the project will remain in paper only.

He has opined that by making the best use of the energy and intelligence of the common people big problems can be solved and great things can be accomplished. It is for the authorities concerned to provide them proper tools for the purpose. Broadband access is one of the basic requirements of the society.

Unfortunately 250,000 homes in the UK do not have broadband connection even now.

The cultural secretary’s statement came after Countryside Alliance came to know that local authorities have done nothing about the project so far.