EVIL Badgers Stall BDUK BT Fibre Broadband Rollout in North Yorkshire UK

Part of North Yorkshire’s (England) state aid supported rollout of superfast broadband services came to a grinding halt recently but it wasn’t because of funding concerns or bureaucratic delays. No. This time BTOpenreach’s telecoms engineers were stopped in their tracks by Badger setts, which may or may not contain said Badgers.

According to the Telegraph, Openreach were preparing to lay a new fibre optic cable to help connect 450 premises in the Easingwold area but discovered that the Badger setts appeared to sit along their planned route. Badgers are still an endangered species and apparently sticking a new fibre optic cable through one of their sets is somewhat frowned upon (fines of up to £5k).

Sadly Badgers have not yet evolved to fully comprehend the benefits that modern internet connectivity could bring to their lives; otherwise they might perhaps be convinced to adopt a better communication method than their current approach of snorting and snarling at passers-by.

Bill Murphy, BT’s MD of Next Generation Access, said:

“Bringing fibre broadband to rural parts of the UK is very challenging, but it’s not often that we encounter this kind of problem! If we do find there’s a risk of disturbing local wildlife and their natural habitat then BT and its partners take the matter very seriously. That’s why we’ve suspended our work in the Easingwold area and enlisted the help of a badger expert to make sure these animals are protected.

Engineering work will continue once we’re advised of the best course of action. BT and Superfast North Yorkshire look forward to bringing faster, fibre broadband to the affected local residents as soon as possible.”

It’s possible that, if the setts are occupied, then BT may need a special license from Natural England before it can continue work (avoiding the setts) and this isn’t expected to be granted until the end of June 2013.

So far nobody has mentioned the ever controversial word of “cull”, although we do recall a certain Badger from children’s TV (Bodger and Badger) that would definitely deserve it. I had nightmares about that evil mashed potato throwing monstrosity and its cold, dark, lifeless eyes. Nightmares!