§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
To what extent their commitment of £30 million to develop rural broadband services will contribute to the delivery of broadband connectivity throughout the UK; and [HL858]
Whether the strategy outlined in UK online: the broadband future is consistent with the pledge to make the United Kingdom the best place among the G7 for broadband services by 2005. [HL859]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe new £30 million challenge fund will enable the devolved administrations and regional development agencies to test innovative schemes for extending broadband networks.
This fund and the other actions outlined in the recent report, UK online: the broadband future, are a significant contribution towards ensuring that the UK has the most extensive and competitive broadband market in the G7 by 2005. The strategy was devised in consultation with industry and has been warmly welcomed by the CBI and Institute of Directors.
The further development of the strategy will be informed by the work of the UK online Broadband Stakeholder Group.