APPENDIX 5
Memorandum submitted by Mr J Chatfeild-Roberts
(S12)
I would like to make a submission to the committee
looking at the provision of broadband in rural areas.
My points are:
1. There is demand for broadband in rural
areas, but many areas will not come up to the minimum level of
demand required by British Telecom to enable the particular exchanges
through lack of population density. Harby in Leicestershire (where
I live) is a case in point, though hardly "deeply rural"
compared to say the North of Scotland.
2. Many services, such as the post, are
required by law to be delivered across the country, irrespective
of geography. I think that the same requirement for the provision
of broadband should be in place for the enabling of broadband
exchanges.
3. If the government is serious about rural
business, it will need to institute such a policy in order to
make the whole country able to compete with other European countries,
such as Switzerland, which have almost universal broadband access.
John Chatfeild-Roberts
3 February 2003
| 
