Countryside Alliance calls for rural broadband funding strategy

The Countryside Alliance has called for the Government to set out a funding strategy to deliver a full-fibre broadband network across the UK.

In written evidence to the House of Commons EFRA Committee, the Countryside Alliance said it welcomed the Government's commitment to deliver a full-fibre network by 2033 but raised concerns that funding for the project is only guaranteed until 2021.

The Committee is currently holding an inquiry, following up on its 2014-15 inquiry into rural broadband and digital-only services, to examine the Government's current proposals and delivery of digital connectivity to rural areas.

The Countryside Alliance told the Committee that slow broadband speeds are a barrier to growth and the lack of connectivity is leading to increased isolation and social exclusion. Digital connectivity emerged as one of the top four priorities for rural voters in a recent survey of Countryside Alliance members and supporters on the Conservative leadership contest and priorities for the next Prime Minister.

As well as setting out a funding strategy to deliver a full-fibre network, the Countryside Alliance also called for the planning system to be updated to enable swifter delivery of mobile and broadband connectivity. The Alliance said that red tape, bureaucracy and poor guidance were holding back the infrastructure needed to deliver superfast broadband and called on the Government to remove and reduce these barriers to connectivity.

Countryside Alliance Head of Policy, Sarah Lee, commented: "The Government is hugely ambitious for a digital Britain, an ambition we support. At a time when Britain is leaving the EU we must ensure Britain is globally competitive in the post-Brexit world, and this will not be the case unless we invest in better digital connectivity that is fit for purpose, responsive to user needs and future proofed in line with the best available technology".

The inquiry will report later in the year.