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Articles for Category Tag - Politics

Full List of Approved UK ISPs for the 2Mbps Better Broadband Subsidy

23rd February, 2017 (3 Comments)

Better late than never. The Department for Culture, Media & Sport has published a useful list of ISP suppliers for their rural focused Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme, which offers a subsidy worth around £350 to properties that struggle to receive a minimum download speed of 2Mbps.

UK House of Lords Vote for 30Mbps Broadband USO with 6Mbps Uploads

22nd February, 2017 (59 Comments)

The Government’s Digital Economy Bill linked proposal to introduce a 10Mbps Universal Service Obligation for broadband has taken an interesting twist today after the House of Lords approved a radical proposal, which raises the minimum download speed to 30Mbps (6Mbps upload).

CEO of the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK Project Bids Farewell

22nd February, 2017 (9 Comments)

The CEO of the Government’s state aid fuelled Broadband Delivery UK programme, which is working to roll-out “superfast broadband” (24Mbps+) networks to 97% of premises by 2020, Christopher Townsend, has decided to leave in order to take up a position as Commercial Director for Chelsea FC.

£25K Business Broadband Grants for Herefordshire, Shropshire and Gloucestershire

22nd February, 2017 (0 Comments)

A new voucher scheme has been launched for businesses in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Gloucestershire and the Borough of Telford & Wrekin (England), which offers local SMEs up to £25,000 to help fund the installation of a 30Mbps+ “superfast” Next Generation Access (NGA) broadband connection.

EE Reveal “Air Mast” 4G Drones and Balloons to Help Connect UK Rural Areas

21st February, 2017 (11 Comments)

Mobile operator EE (BT) has today revealed details of their new Rapid Response Vehicles, balloons and drone based “Air Mast” technology, which will all be used to help keep their 4G (LTE) network running in remote communities (e.g. during disasters, network outages or to help emergency services).

Leeds City Council Moot FREE Home Broadband for Disadvantaged Adults

20th February, 2017 (9 Comments)

The Leeds City Council in Yorkshire (England) has proposed a new scheme that could generate £45m for the local economy over the next 10 years and help “thousands” of “digitally excluded” adults by giving them access to free home broadband connections, wifi and Tablet computers.

New UK Internet Snooping Law Confusion Hits the London Internet Exchange

20th February, 2017 (2 Comments)

The new Investigatory Powers Act has been blamed for encouraging the London Internet Exchange to allegedly consider the introduction of a new constitution that would allow secret surveillance orders and gag directors from talking about it. But LINX says the claims are “highly misleading“.

UK Fibre Optic Tax – BT and Virgin Media Fear £1.3bn Business Rates Hike

18th February, 2017 (17 Comments)

The Valuation Office Agency‘s imminent “revaluation” of business rates (due to take effect from the 1st April 2017) could do more harm than good to the roll-out of fibre optic broadband, not least by hitting BT and Virgin Media with a £1.3bn tax hike on existing infrastructure over the next 4-5 years.

Q4 2016 – UK Government Brings Superfast Broadband to 4.3 Million Premises

16th February, 2017 (5 Comments)

The Government’s national Broadband Delivery UK programme has today announced that some 4,309,668 additional homes and businesses in the United Kingdom can now order a “superfast broadband” (24Mbps+) service as a result of their £1.6bn+ public investment.

UK Digital Economy Bill Could Fuel ISP Targeting Internet Copyright Trolls

14th February, 2017 (5 Comments)

The Open Rights Group has warned that new measures in the forthcoming Digital Economy Bill 2017 could provide ammunition to copyright trolls, which have made a business out of harassing broadband ISP subscribers with letters that demand payment for suspected Internet piracy.

200+ Rural Homes in Devon and Somerset Get Faster Broadband via 4G

10th February, 2017 (3 Comments)

Little known communications provider Exmoor Technology claims to have helped 200+ homes in rural Devon and Somerset (England) gain access to faster wireless broadband by connecting them to EE’s 4G data network via a specialised antenna and Mobile router.

New York Takes Tough Line on Misleading Broadband ISP Speeds

6th February, 2017 (10 Comments)

The UK advertising watchdog is currently deciding on new guidelines for improving how broadband speeds are advertised by ISPs (here and here). While we wait for that it’s worth casting your eyes across the Atlantic towards New York, where the issue is about to take centre stage in a heated legal battle.

UK ISP Association Asks Gov to Remove Barriers for “Full Fibre” Broadband

2nd February, 2017 (0 Comments)

The UK Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA) has told the Government that if they wish to boost the roll-out of ultrafast “full fibre” FTTP/H broadband networks then the “most important factor” will be to reduce the high costs and admin burden of existing regulatory barriers (wayleaves etc.).

Changes Coming for Struggling Broadband Voucher Schemes in Wales

30th January, 2017 (1 Comment)

The Welsh Government has revealed that the uptake of their two broadband voucher schemes, which are designed to help businesses and rural homes gain access to a faster connection, has been fairly small and as a result some tweaks may be required in order to boost uptake.

UPDATE BT Fibre Broadband Upgrades for 40000 Premises in Wales Delayed

28th January, 2017 (13 Comments)

Problems with gaining access to private land are reportedly delaying the Welsh Government’s joint Superfast Cymru project with Openreach (BT) to roll-out faster “fibre broadband” (FTTC/P) services to around 40,000 extra homes and businesses in Wales.

Landowners Call for UK Government Deal on Broadband Infrastructure

27th January, 2017 (7 Comments)

The Country Land and Business Association has today pledged to work with “fibre broadband” infrastructure providers in order to agree a new wayleave deal for better access across private land, but only if the Government “proves its commitment” to improving rural broadband connectivity.

Delays and Cost Overruns Threaten New 4G Emergency Services Network

25th January, 2017 (0 Comments)

A report from the Public Accounts Committee has warned that EE’s new 4G based UK Emergency Services Network (ESN) “seems unlikely” to meet its target date for delivery and the Government has allegedly failed to budget for such an outcome or put in place a detailed contingency plan.