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Rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme - Voucher Request

Hi,

I have been involved in a community scheme that didn't manage to get the traction first anticipated. (we only reached 35% of the required amount)

I assumed the scheme was abandoned due to lack of interest, however today a few of the signees including myself, received an email from DCMS saying Openreach had requested a voucher for this order and I also got a follow up from Openreach prompting me to fill out the voucher request.

Has this happened to anyone else? is it likely Openreach are progressing the scheme without the necessary commitment?
 
I suppose it's possible, particularly as BDUK are currently running a sweep of all the active and proposed projects ahead of the new scheme starting. Equally, as networks expand then your community may have become more viable via fewer vouchers. Have you asked them yet?
 
It does seem that Openreach are doing the DCMS backwards, by claiming vouchers despite not building their network and THEN deciding on the build based on uptake, which then prevents any other alt net attempting DCMS as only 1 infrastructure firm can claim the vouchers at a time.

I know one DCMS scheme that was built THEN vouchers are claimed once the residents place orders, thus giving the builder a year to recoup their investment.
 
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It should not be possible for a supplier to "claim" the voucher without a live service.

Redeem Request
(Online
form/batch)
Supplier requests payment for a connected
gigabit capable connection.
Claimed

If they are claiming before the customer is online then something is very, very wrong there.
A supplier is fine asking customers to request and issue a voucher but the funds can't be claimed for each voucher until that specific customer has a live service. (Occasionally DCMS follow up and send someone to check and validate the service is installed and working at the expected speed).

The entire flow is:
Requested (initial form / provider request to DCMS)
Issued (DCMS issue it if the request meets the requirements)
--There can be a long wait between these two stages as the network is built out and customer connected to the network--
Claimed (the provider has told DCMS that the connection is live)
Approved (DCMS agree and mark it for payment)
Paid (Supplier has been paid by DCMS for that specific connection/voucher)
 
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