Broadband in Skelsmergh & Scalthwaiterigg Hermann Moisl This presentation is in three main parts: Overview of broadband technologies. Broadband in Skelsmergh & Scalthwaiterigg: the current situation. Prospects for improved availability.

Overview of broadband technologies Broadband ADSL Uses existing telephone lines with ADSL filters. Advantages Universally available Easy setup Fast enough for email and Web browsing Disadvantages Far too slow for video streaming, online TV, multiple users. Assessment: OK for basic Web usage, but too slow for anything else.

Overview of broadband technologies Fibre optic cable ('superfast broadband') Advantages Very fast Relatively cheap Easily accommodates video streaming, online TV etc. Disadvantages Requires installation of dedicated broadband cabling Assessment: The world standard for internet connectivity.

Overview of broadband technologies Satellite Advantages 100% UK coverage - even in rural areas. Good for general/basic internet use. Reasonably fast Disadvantages Expensive hardware and setup. Small usage allowances. Significant response lag Assessment: A plausible go-it-alone solution if all else fails.

Broadband in Skelsmergh & Scalthwaiterigg: the current situation Central government has provided funding to achieve 95% 'superfast' coverage nationally by end 2017. British Telecom has the contract to deliver this via Openreach subsidiaries. In Cumbria the subsidiary is Connecting Cumbria, which aims for 95% coverage by mid-2018. Kendal is now well provided, and there are fibre optic 'cabinets' along the A6.

Broadband in Skelsmergh & Scalthwaiterigg: the current situation

Broadband in Skelsmergh & Scalthwaiterigg: the current situation Some places in the parish, like Garth Row, have superfast because they're quite close to the A6. Others, like Oakbank, Mealbank, and more isolated settlements don't because they are too far from existing Kendal / A6 cabinets, or too difficult of access. 'Connecting Cumbria are exploring solutions to ensure that as many premises as possible in Cumbria can enjoy the benefits of superfast broadband.' That is, prospects of getting superfast are currently imponderable.

Prospects for improved availability Options: 1. Do nothing and hope that Connecting Cumbria comes through in the end. 2. Community fibre partnerships 'Working with communities on fibre solutions, when they aren’t currently covered by Openreach.' 'We also want to go further and are always searching for ways to reach the last 5%'. 'Delivering fibre to the hardest to reach communities is a big challenge. In rural areas we often face long distances and challenging terrain'.

Prospects for improved availability Options: 'We're committed to working with all communities to find a fibre solution. Our community fibre partnership scheme is designed to help  deliver  this'. 'A community fibre partnership is where Openreach works with a local group – this could be the residents of a rural village or a block of flats in a city centre or even a group of business owners in an industrial park – that aren’t covered in an existing fibre upgrade plan to find a solution to bring fibre to their area. The community works directly with Openreach and helps fund part of the fibre build'.

Prospects for improved availability Options: 'There usually needs to be a joint funding arrangement, where we cover the costs in line with our commercial model used throughout the country and the community has the option to self-fund the remaining gap. We always look for solutions to be as affordable as possible'. No costs are given online on the grounds that each case is unique.

Prospects for improved availability Options: 3. B4RN 'B4RN is a professionally designed fibre optic broadband network, registered as a non-profit community benefit society, and run by a dedicated local team with the support of landowners and volunteers'. The deal in essence: The community arranges for fibre provision, including easements and physical cable installation. Over and above this, cost per kilometre is about £5000

Prospects for improved availability Options: Every community’s core investment is made up of shares The shares are an investment: not only do they support the project in that community, but they have tax advantages and will pay a good return. Minimum shareholding £100 / maximum £100,000. Individual investors can claim 30% tax relief After year 3, interest  of 5% can be paid out or reinvested.

Prospects for improved availability Options: B4RN has currently reached the ex-Greyhound pub at the intersection of the old Sedbergh road and Paddy Lane. Estimating 3 km to Mealbank, that's £15,000, and some more to reach Oakbank and individual places in between.

Prospects for improved availability The Parish Council is prepared to coordinate acquisition of superfast, subject to the following conditions. 1. Evidence that there is sufficient community interest in superfast to justify the effort and investment involved. 2. Evidence that there is community willingness to contribute to funding of the project. 3. Volunteers to contribute meaningfully to organisation and implementation of the project.

Prospects for improved availability The first step: Email me at hermann.moisl49@gmail.com stating your degree of interest in the broadband project. Specifically: 1. Are you interested in home broadband? 2. Are you prepared in principle to contribute to the funding of the project? 3. Are you prepared to participate in management and implementation of the project?

Prospects for improved availability To remind interested persons in what has been said, these slides are available on the home page at the Parish Council website, under 'Announcements': http://www.skelscalpc.org.uk/ My email address and the above website URL are on the leaflet which you can take as you leave.