Published on:
20
December 2012
Clackmannanshire Council has approved, in principle, a commitment to support delivery of Next Generation Broadband into areas of the county not covered by the programme.
Councillors thave instructed Officers to work with Government to target this investment to prioritise those settlements which are not likely to be supported by the nationally funding, namely Dollar, Muckhart, Tillicoultry and Coalsnaughton.
The Scottish Government Infrastructure Action Plan aims to deliver a world class digital infrastructure for Scotland by 2020, but by achieving a significant uplift in speeds for everyone by 2015.
Council Leader, Councillor Gary Womersley, said: "Clackmannanshire has significant issues with lack of broadband capacity, and in principle the Action Plan will support our aspirations for better connectivity as expressed in the recently approved ICT Strategy."
Clackmannanshire Council has been invited to commit to additional funding to extend broadband coverage beyond that which is delivered through central funding.
After initial talks with potential suppliers, the Programme has indicated that Clackmannanshire is likely to receive 75% coverage through central funding. Local Uplift would extend to 80% and further investment would achieve 85% coverage.
Councillor Womersley added: "It is likely that the most cost effective way to deliver the locally supported component is by committing to the 85% coverage in this tranche.
"While it may be possible to add local priorities to the national contract at a later date, this would be likely to incur additional cost."
Clackmannanshire is being asked to commit to the Local Uplift by December 2012 to be included in the national procurement.
Councillor Womersley went on: "There is still a degree of uncertainty about how much coverage the Local Uplift will provide as the exact coverage details can't be known until the procurement exercise has been carried out.
"Some data has been received from Scottish Government which shows the anticipated coverage areas in Clackmannanshire."
Next Generation Broadband may be available in Alloa, Tullibody, Sauchie, Clackmannan, Menstrie and Alva. This suggests that the main "not spots" will continue to be Tillicoultry, Dollar, Muckhart, Coalsnaughton, Fishcross and other rural developments.
To extend the NGB broadband into these settlements will require Clackmannanshire Council to commit to spend the sums indicated. Elected members are requested to commit to investment in principle to enable Officers to engage with the Scottish Government and plan the action required to target these "not spots"
The Council Leader added: "Despite the lack of specific detail at this stage, the economic, social and operational benefits to be gained from providing NGB in our hard to reach areas are likely to be significant and therefore this is an initiative which is worthy of support."
The Council has set as a priority the delivery of Next Generation Broadband into those communities which are hard to reach, prioritising Dollar, Tillicoultry and Coalsnaughton areas.