Rural area of West Midlands playing digital 'catch up'
People in rural parts of the West Midlands are at risk of constantly playing digital “catch up” unless there is a firm commitment to improving communications access, a new study has warned.
The report, called Mind the Gap − Digital England: a rural perspective, contains a series of recommendations to the government from the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) to ensure an effective and sustainable communications future for rural England.
The report includes an independent analysis of rural connectivity issues – the first time this has been done for Next Generation Access on a consistent national basis.
It is also part of the organisation’s contribution to the Digital Britain report and identifies four key areas it believes must be tackled as a priority – education and lifelong learning, business development, social and community cohesion and equitable access to services.
Dr Stuart Burgess, chairman of the CRC and the government’s Rural Advocate, said: “The issues highlighted in this report are those that rural communities themselves have consistently told us they face when trying to access digital communications.
“I am very pleased the CRC is taking the lead not only in publishing this significant new report, but also through its work on digital inclusion involving a wide range of stakeholders.
“I look forward to working with the government and others to follow up on our recommendations, which we believe will make a real difference to those living and working in the rural West Midlands”
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “The Commission for Rural Communities’ report is a timely and welcome contribution to the national debate on the future of Digital Britain.
“Digital technology in rural areas is helping businesses to grow, and is transforming lives, communities and jobs. Access to the best technology available is as essential to rural areas as it is to urban.
“Universal access to broadband is central to government’s plans to deliver services and information, both nationally and locally. We must ensure everyone is able to benefit from the advantages of new technologies both now and in the future.”
Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting Stephen Carter, author of the Digital Britain report, said the CRC report highlighted the need to ensure rural communities weren’t left behind.
He said: “In the Digital Britain report we have pledged to deliver quality broadband access to every home, every community and every business across the country, by 2012. We have also announced a new fund to help bring Next Generation, super-fast broadband to the third of the country that we know the market won’t reach on its own.”
