The government could break its promise to deliver broadband to all UK homes and businesses by 2015, the CLA has warned.
Speaking ahead of a Department for Culture Media and Sport select committee evidence session on broadband delivery, CLA president Harry Cotterell said it was unlikely that the government will meet its objectives.
“The BDUK process is too bureaucratic and the allocation of the £530million funding too slow,” he said.
“It would be much simpler if the funding was allocated centrally rather than giving it directly to local authorities because they do not have the resource to plan for a superfast broadband network.
“An over-reliance on fibre optic is also a factor in the Government’s poor chance of meeting these deadlines. The CLA advocates a patchwork quilt model that uses the most appropriate technologies for a certain area, rather than using a single technology, so everyone can benefit from broadband.”
The CLA has been working with the NFU to produce a national broadband wayleave agreement which would create a more stable platform for those infrastructure providers willing to develop superfast broadband networks in rural areas.
