Broadband planning stage complete
Author: Mark Smulian, LGC |
All but two councils have put plans to culture secretary Jeremy Hunt on how they will bring superfast broadband to their areas.
He said 40% of projects had now been given the go-ahead to begin procurement.
Councils in rural areas that cannot be economically reached by the industry are partners in using a 530m government broadband delivery fund to bring the service to 90% of homes.
But North Tyneside and South Tyneside MBCs have failed to submit plans, and Mr Hunt said: ?I just hope they are not being complacent.?
?No one can afford to slack on making sure we have the best broadband in Europe?
The two councils said their absence from the government list is coincidence, not because they were pursuing a joint project.
North Tyneside said in January that it was working through BT’s Next Generation Access programme, which would reach 91% of residents by 2015 and so did not need government money.
A spokesperson said this week: ?We can give a firm assurance to our residents and business that we are committed to delivering superfast broadband where it is needed most, and we will be writing to the minister to update him on our position and progress.?
The broadband programme has also been subject to controversy because highway authorities fear microtrenching, one of the techniques used in installation, could damage roads.