THE search is on for enthusiastic broadband champions to promote the benefits and economic opportunities widespread superfast internet connections could bring to North East Lincolnshire.
The voluntary roles are being created as part of the Digital Northern Lincolnshire programme which aims to ensure fast and reliable broadband is available to residents and businesses across the region.
- Broadband champions are wanted to promote the benefits superfast internet connections could bring to residents and businesses in North East Lincolnshire
As well as distributing information and educating people about superfast internet connections, broadband champions will also get involved with their local communities by organising events and gathering feedback to ensure the thoughts of as many residents and businesses as possible are taken into consideration.
The aim of the programme is to collect a catalogue of evidence and case studies in order to identify the areas of northern Lincolnshire where there are connectivity issues and where users want, and are willing to pay for, faster broadband than is currently available.
The information gathered by broadband champions will then be used to help influence key decision makers into giving residents and businesses in northern Lincolnshire broadband speeds on a par with major UK cities.
A few weeks ago, an online survey was launched to gauge what residents in northern Lincolnshire are mostly using the internet for and how satisfied they are with the service they receive. Since then, over 1,000 people have completed the survey but the programme’s organisers say more opinions are needed.
John Bullivent, programme director at North Lincolnshire Council, said: “It’s amazing that in just a few weeks, over 1,000 people have responded to our broadband survey. It is crucial that even more do so if we are to provide a good case for getting 90 per cent of northern Lincolnshire residents and businesses on superfast broadband in the next few years.”
North and North East Lincolnshire have been allocated a portion of £530 million of Government funding promised to regions to bring high-speed broadband to 90 per cent of the population by 2015. However, despite plans for £11 million to be invested by 2015, local campaigners claim that only nine per cent of this will go to North East Lincolnshire1.
Anyone interested in becoming a broadband champion is asked to contact Yvonne Thompson on 01724 296926 or email yvonne.thompson@northlincs.gov.uk2.
To complete the survey, click on one of the links below:
Residents – http://www.shumberbroadband.info/residents3
Businesses – http://www.shumberbroadband.info/business4
You can test your broadband speed at http://www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk5
References
- ^ local campaigners claim that only nine per cent of this will go to North East Lincolnshire (www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk)
- ^ yvonne.thompson@northlincs.gov.uk (www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk)
- ^ http://www.shumberbroadband.info/residents (www.shumberbroadband.info)
- ^ http://www.shumberbroadband.info/business (www.shumberbroadband.info)
- ^ http://www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk (www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk)
Broadband Security 