Background and need for the discussion.

The hosting of the Olympics at Weymouth and Portland, in respect of Broadband, stated that two high fibre links were being put in place and that two exchanges would be updated for the Olympic events. There was a need for a business case to keep the exchange and other equipment after the games as otherwise BT could withdraw it.

At the meeting of the DAPTC Towns and Larger Councils Committee on 22 January 2010, the Chairman welcomed Helen Heanes, Senior Economic Development Officer and Tony May ICT Project Manager of Dorset County Council who gave presentations relating to the above.

Rural Communities have long expressed concerns about being left behind by fibre-based connections. The East of England Development Agency had researched the views of its residents and businesses and is due to publish a map of requirement early in 2010. Their opinion was "Access to fast Broadband is proven to have a positive impact on the economy, increasing access to services and boosting business opportunities".

The Government had promised a £1bn boost for rural broadband stating that "The funding would benefit rural communications and hard to reach areas without access to next generation Broadband. The investment would upgrade the

UK's digital infrastructure to bring super fast broadband to 90% of the country".

Estimates however suggest that private investment would only reach 70% of the population by 2017.

Private companies were already delivering super fast internet speeds of 50Mpbs to half the country, but these speeds are mostly limited to larger towns and cities.

The Government had also announced a 50p a month tax on landlines to pay for the further rollout scheme.

Broadband speeds in Dorchester were around the 3 to 4 mpbs but again this differed between download and upload speeds. Upload speeds are important to businesses but are generally much lower up to a third compared to download speeds.

On the other hand Bournemouth has just come out top in a national survey of broadband speeds. The average speed was by contrast 8.06 mpbs. The concept in Bournemouth was to do away with BT's copper cables and lay new fibre optic cables in the sewers without then the need to dig up the roads. The estimated broadband speed for Bournemouth would then be over 90 mpbs.

The Prime Minister in a recent speech stated that "by investing in the digital revolution we can bring to households and businesses all over the country internet speeds 50 times faster than most people experience today". He added that the private sector is investing significant sums in this but left alone they are only likely to reach two/thirds of communities, mainly urban and highly populated which are seen as being commercially viable.

The Olympic arrangements are a vital and uniquely important opportunity for our area, and one that must not be missed if we are to secure future development for the area, its businesses and the community as a whole.

A business case from both the private and public sector must be made to retain the BT infrastructure equipment and to enhance connections to it and thus to maximise its potential use equally by the urban and rural area.

Helen Heanes within her presentation gave details of an ongoing business survey that was being conducted with the business community in Dorset. Two of the important considerations arising from her presentation were that BT did not understand the potential desire and use for Broadband in our area and that this factor would have to be proved to them to justify the retention and expansion of its equipment.

The Business survey needs a lot more input. 410 replies had been received, but Helen estimated that there were 16,000 businesses in Dorset including those working from homes. A better response was consequently needed to help ‘prove' the case for provision.

The survey is simple to complete and short (2 pages)

A link to the survey document can be found on the front page of the ‘Team Dorset' website - www.teamdorset.org.uk

PLEASE CANVASS ALL BUSINESSES IN YOUR AREAS ASK THEM TO RESPOND TO THE SURVEY

URGENT DEADLINE 8^TH FEBRUARY 2010.

Tony May gave a presentation about the procurement project for a Pathfinder initiative for all Principal Authorities to have an integrated network which other organisations like the PCT's Ambulance, Fire and Police services, Parish and Town Councils and the voluntary sector could link into. This would benefit the public sector and all residents. Clearly this initiative would benefit from the provision of high speed broadband for Dorset.

There was then an opportunity for questions from the Councillors present and these were many and various. Representatives were asked to follow up by putting their questions in writing to DAPTC so that these could be collated and forwarded as part of an ongoing dialogue with the County Council Officers involved.

The Chairman stressed it was vitally important that all the Parishes and Town Councils were seen to be in support of the County Council and that we were then involved in the acquisition of the improved broadband structure for our area its businesses and our residents. Likewise he asked the Officers to keep DAPTC up to date with any requirements that Councils, members and residents could support to help to acquire the necessary provision and its installation throughout Dorset.

Copies of both presentations can be found on the DAPTC website.