ANNA SABINE MP ASKS FOR CONSTITUENT FEEDBACK AHEAD OF MEETING WITH BROADBAND MINISTER

ANNA SABINE MP ASKS FOR CONSTITUENT FEEDBACK AHEAD OF MEETING WITH BROADBAND MINISTER

Later this month, Anna Sabine MP for Frome and East Somerset will be meeting with the Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Chris Bryant to speak about broadband and mobile phone signal in rural areas.

This follows last year’s debate on financial inclusion where Anna spoke on many issues including the lack of useable broadband and the problems this can cause individuals and small businesses in rural areas. Anna has previously spoken about the crucial need for adequate connectivity to allow people in rural areas to access the increasingly digital world pointing out that “Financial inclusion and digital inclusion are critically linked”.

In the run up to this meeting Anna has reached out to residents in a number of villages around Frome and East Somerset to ask for their input and experiences with broadband and connectivity. A letter has this week been sent out to constituents who might be facing such issues. Anna has asked about experiences with broadband and mobile phone signal as well as encounters with Openreach who she is aware have quoted extremely high costings to extend broadband to some homes.

In light of the Government’s recent contract with Openreach to deliver gigabit- capable broadband across Mid Devon, North Somerset and South Devon as part of their Project Gigabit, Anna wants to ensure they take steps towards ensuring the entirety of the south-west has the coverage and connectivity required.

Anna has previously spoken on the issues specifically facing small businesses and farmers in the area who are often unable to get broadband beyond the end of their farm track, sometimes a mile from their home. Without decent broadband, businesses can struggle to function and in a modern world of home working, this can cause issues beyond businesses, to individual workers as well.

“In today’s world, decent broadband and mobile phone signal should be available to everyone. Money management, connecting to family and friends, and the ability to work are all crucially interlinked with digital connectivity and I want to ensure that residents in the villages of Somerset are heard by the Minister and importantly, listened to. It’s simply not acceptable that rural areas are left behind”.

Anna looks forward to meeting with the Minister whom she has previously written to with regards to rural broadband, but has yet to have a response from.