Survey to Reveal Broadband Slowspots on Scotland’s Southern Borders

The Southern Uplands Partnership (SUP) has launched a new survey for those who live in rural communities along Scotland’s southern border region, which they hope will help to identify the areas that are most in need of better broadband connectivity and thus public funding support.

The survey is being conducted alongside the Community Broadband Scotland (CBS) initiative, which has already helped to fund a number of alternative network projects, and is broadly focused on areas like Eskdalemuir, Upper Teviotdale, Borthwick Water, Tweedsmuir, Moffat Water, Glen, Orchard Mains, Traquair, Ettrick, Yarrow, Lilliesleaf, Ashkirk, Midlem, Bedrule, Hassendean and Minto.

Julie Nock, SUP Spokesperson, said (Southern Reporter):

“This is a huge problem for many outlying communities and I am collating data in the hope of finding a long-term solution. I need as many survey responses as possible to demonstrate a need for better provision, and to allow us to go a stage further in tendering for a solution.

We are aware that many of you have already completed a broadband survey in your community council area, and we will endeavour to include these results. However, it is vital we get up-to-date information.

The general information will then go out in a public consultation. Once these are accepted, the communities have a number of options and can apply for government funding to install their own infrastructure.”

Admittedly the national Broadband Delivery UK programme began life by conducting similar surveys through various local authorities across the United Kingdom, although in the end this appears to have had precious little impact upon the roll-out plan and seemed to be more of a device for paying lip service to local concerns.

However the CBS programme, which exists somewhat separately from BDUK, has shown a tendency to be both more flexible and capable of engaging with communities to deliver altnet solutions. In that sense the survey might actually do some good, provided they can promote it widely enough before the 2nd September 2015 deadline (getting the word out is often the hardest part).

Mind you we shouldn’t forget that those with no Internet connectivity will not be able to complete an online survey, which is somewhat of a problem. Speaking of which, the survey itself can be FOUND HERE.