Jeremy Hunt backs B4RN community broadband scheme

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has signalled his support for a community super-fast broadband scheme in rural north Lancashire.

Mr Hunt was asked by Lancaster and Fleetwood MP Eric Ollerenshaw whether he would be prepared to meet the Broadband for the Rural North (B4RN) group to see what can be done to "maintain the momentum of this vital project".

In response, the Culture Secretary stressed that the government is eager to support projects such as this in any way possible and said either he or Communications Minister Ed Vaizey would be "delighted to meet him and his constituents".

B4RN is currently working on the rollout of a 1Gbps fibre optic broadband network to a rural area east of Lancaster.

The scheme has been launched as local residents and businesses fear the community is unlikely to be included in private sector broadband deployments.

Project leaders are hoping to connect around 1,400 commercial and residential properties in north Lancashire to the infrastructure, with the rollout getting underway at the end of March.

B4RN co-founder Chris Conder welcomed Mr Hunt's announcement, commenting: "There is so much to be done and all help is gratefully received."

June 18, 2012

Continue