The roll-out of high speed broadband to rural areas was top of the agenda at a Parliamentary briefing event yesterday (Tuesday), organised by an Isle of Wight Councillor.
Councillor Chris Whitehouse (Conservative, Newport West Ward), who for 26 years has served as the Clerk to the All-Party Parliamentary Media Group, organised the event attended by 30 Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The audience heard first hand from the Lord Burns, Chair of media regulator Ofcom, and its Chief Executive, Sharon White, what their plans are to ensure that those who live in more remote areas are not denied access to high speed fibre optic cable.
Speaking today, Cllr Whitehouse says:
“It is increasingly the case that access to broadband internet is vital to access public services, to find information, and simply to do the weekly shop. It’s wrong that in a wealthy nation, 18 years into the 21st Century so many people are denied such access.
“It was encouraging to hear Ofcom’s detailed plans to ensure that companies invest more in their rural broadband networks, and in their mobile phone networks, too, for that matter.”
The councillor also took the opportunity to promote the Isle of Wight Council’s Conservative Administration’s plans to attract more digital companies to invest in the Island to grow its economy.
