“Broadband infrastructure is essential for economic growth and efficient public service delivery – yet many areas of Kent currently have poor broadband access and will not benefit from planned upgrades for superfast provision.
Broadband Delivery UK (the Government’s broadband agency) has launched a new funding round for broadband infrastructure improvements in rural areas. Tier one authorities are being invited to submit bids setting out how universal broadband access will be delivered in their areas by 2015.
A considerable amount of work has been undertaken to prepare a Kent and Medway bid and strong buy‐in has been secured from districts, rural partners and thebusiness community. There are issues around the level of the bid, but it is proposed that the Kent and Medway application seeks a realistic level of funding to avoid raising public expectations and creating serious implementation issues.
Recommendations
That Kent Forum:
1. Provides formal support for the Kent and Medway Broadband Delivery UK bid.
2. Endorses that the bid should be submitted on a realistic cost basis”
Extracted from: http://www.kentforum.org.uk/reports-and-files/Item-7-Broadband-bid.pdf