The West Sussex County Council (WSCC) has posted the preliminary results of its latest survey, which found that only 10% of businesses in the region would rate their broadband internet access as being fast enough to meet their needs.

The study of over 600 local firms, which began in February 2011 and immediately after the council was able to complete an almost identical survey of 2,000 residents (here), also found that 80% of businesses viewed their internet access as vital and just 18% rated it as being merely "very useful".

West Sussex County Council and MP Nick Herbert (Arundel and South Downs) are collaborating to hold a Broadband Summit on 20th May 2011 that will discuss the issues of rural connectivity. The council claims to have been lobbying BT and other ISPs to help plug its remaining Notspots and bring faster broadband to the region.