MP challenges BT on broadband secrecy

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has once again pushed Communications Minister, Ed Vaizey, to order BT to disclose where rural broadband will be delivered.

Tim wrote to the Minister today after residents complained to him about the lack of information being provided by BT about which areas would receive faster broadband services.

Tim is keen for rural broadband to be rolled out across the whole of the South Lakes area, so that small businesses have the modern internet connections that they need, and so that families can take advantage of the latest technologies.

Tim said: "The major problem that the contractual arrangements have failed to overcome is that BT and Cumbria County Council have been unwilling or unable to publicise the precise locations where the 'Connecting Cumbria' programme will NOT deliver fast broadband connection. It matters that we have this information so that we can work to find alternative solutions and at the same time campaign to have those areas included. BT are using public money to deliver this project, so its all the more important that they tell the public exactly what they are planning.

"I wrote to the Minister today to push for a Ministerial directive under which BT would be statutorily required to specify the precise locations to which the programme will guarantee to deliver fast broadband. I don't think that this is asking too much, and I'll continue to fight for our right to access good quality rural broadband, at the same speeds as urban areas."