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RURAL communities are being left behind by the government's broadband plans, MPs have warned. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee fears hard to reach rural communities are being overlooked in the race to upgrade basic internet connections...
MPs have clashed with civil servants and telecom bosses over the delivery of better broadband to rural areas. A Public Accounts Committee hearing examining the government's progress on delivering superfast rural broadband was held on Wednesday (28 January)....
THE chief executive of Broadband Delivery UK has come under fire from MPs over the company's failure to meet rural internet access targets. Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) is the company set up to manage delivery of the government's...
Two issues demand urgent resolution, these being to: Permit greater flexibility in what its agency, BDUK, allows to be counted as match funding for Government broadband investment programmes, so that local projects with allocations can actually proceed....
AN influential committee of MPs has launched an inquiry into rural broadband coverage. The inquiry by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee follows concern that rural communities will miss out amid a government target to provide...
BUSINESS and community leaders visited Westminster to push for improvements to mobile phone signals and broadband in rural areas. The meeting with Ed Vaizey, minister for the digital economy, is the latest step in a campaign led by...
RURAL pupils are missing out because their schools are among those with the poorest internet connections. Pupils in more than half of all UK state schools have poor access to ICT and computers, said the British Educational Suppliers...
MOBILE broadband is more cost effective in rural areas than fibre-based connections, suggests a study. Urban areas pass the cost benefit test of rolling out fibre broadband infrastructure by a large margin, according to researchers at the London...
THE government's superfast broadband rollout has now reached more than 1m premises – but isolated areas are still proving harder to reach. Culture secretary Sajid Javid said the programme was "firmly on track" to offer high-speed internet to...
MOBILE phone carrier Vodafone has launched a national programme for rural communities to apply for better coverage in "not-spot areas". The telecoms giant has invited communities to work with their local MP to apply for Vodafone's Open Sure...
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Amid reduced public spending, fair resource allocation across regions is crucial. Despite a population larger than Greater London, rural areas receive significantly less funding for essential services, even though delivering these services in rural areas is more expensive.
Economic growth is widely acknowledged as essential for national wealth and prosperity and is a priority for political parties. Rural economies, employing millions and home to a higher proportion of small businesses, have potential for growth if barriers are removed.
Rural residents face distinct healthcare challenges, including limited access to transport, longer distances to medical facilities, an aging demographic, housing inadequacies, digital connectivity gaps, and difficulties recruiting health and care workers.
Rural communities are grappling with a severe affordable housing crisis, marked by high house prices, a lack of affordable housing, elevated living costs, and lower incomes, threatening their sustainability and vitality.
Transport is vital for the quality of life and economic health of rural areas, yet it faces challenges such as infrequent public bus services and less Government funding compared to urban regions.
Rural areas, encompassing a substantial portion of England's population and land, play a pivotal role in combating climate change and achieving the net zero target.
In an increasingly digital world, the lack of robust digital infrastructure in rural areas severely limits access to crucial services and stifles economic growth.
A future-focused vision for rural communities involves not just building the right homes in the right places but also ensuring thriving, sustainable communities.
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