Where is BDUK rolling out broadband?

So just where is superfast broadband being rolled out across the UK? This article in Computer Weekly appears to offer a useful summary.

Penalty for rural living

Tim Farron MP outlines his concerns about the penalties rural communities have to pay in The Westmoreland Gazette.

Funding Presentation

Members of the Fibre Garden team travel to London tomorrow to make a presentation the Venture Capital Fund as the final part of our application for a grant and support funding. This key source of funding is the final part of our overall funding strategy that will help to secure the project.

Wish us well and watch the blog for feedback on our presentation!

Do we still need the telephone?

This is an interesting article by Lucy Kellaway of the BBC: Just as the use of social media divides opinion, so the arrival of telephones in the office was once seen as a radical intrusion.

Initial HMRC approval

We have received confirmation, through our Accountants, that HMRC have no queries on our EIS application at this stage.  This is another important step to getting the share offer released.

How Maria Miller can save British broadband

Br0kenTeleph0n3

"If tomorrow’s meeting to get a grip on the provision of next generation broadband access (NGA) in the “Final 10%” is not to produce a damp squib, the government needs to commit itself to true competition in telecoms market.

Culture minister Maria Miller called the meeting between her, communications minister Ed Vaizey, and representatives from BT, BDUK and six would-be alternative network operators (altnets) who are looking for money from the Rural Community Broadband Fund (RCBF) in the wake of the highly criticalNational Audit Office report into value for money from the rural broadband process overseen by BDUK."

Read more...

The need for speed

This press release from EUROPA states that 45% of European internet users are willing to upgrade or change supplier for a higher speed.

You may think you have sufficient speed today but this time next year you will be looking around for something quicker!

Grant Confirmed

Our recent application to Yorkshire Dales National Park Sustainable Development Fund has been successful!

This is our second successful application which clearly demonstrates the value placed on our project by YDNP and the proven need for fast and reliable broadband connections in Garsdale and Dentdale. This particular grant is to be used as a contribution to initial overheads when the project is up and running, among other things it will help secure new employment opportunities.

We now have just over 50% of the required funding in place. On the 30th of this month we will be making a presentation to another potential funder for a further 17% of the required funding. The rest is then down to the communities through the imminent share offer. 

Meeting the suppliers

Starting tonight, Fibre Garden will be meeting a number of shortlisted potential suppliers who have submitted tenders for the network build. There are three essential elements to this process, ensuring that companies have the technical wherewithal and ability; we undertake due diligence, and that they understand the objectives of the communities as a social enterprise.

Interesting times!

auditors slam missed broadband target

The Rural Services Network picks up on the National Audit Office report on the broadband roll out and BT contracts.

@fibregarden

We have now launched the @fibregarden account on twitter, which already has a number of followers. Make sure you check it out and follow as well!

Board Meeting

The Board Members of Fibre Garden met last night to review the progress on a number of fronts:

• The registration of Digital Dales (UK) Limited, the vehicle through which the network will be built and delivered was acknowledged.
• HMRC had acknowledged our Advance Approval Application for the EIS Scheme
• The share prospectus still required one further document to be received before publication, which is due shortly
• The tendering process for the building of the network was to be finalised and meetings are to be held with a short list of potential suppliers
• The Company accounts ending March 2013 were signed off and are ready to be submitted to Companies House
• Various grant applications were reported on
• Our Code Powers application is to be progressed and submitted
• Our land agent is to report back shortly on wayleaves.

The next full Board meeting will be held on 1st September but a great deal of work will continue on all fronts before then.

National Audit Office

This makes interesting reading for those who follow the National Audit Office and BT

Government Rural Broadband Target Postponed

Looks like there is going to be a delay in achieving the Government's Rural Broadband Target which has now been put back to 2017. Good job that community broadband projects, like fibre Garden, are moving forward!