Rural areas in England and Scotland get broadband funding

It has been announced recently that rural areas in England and Scotland are set to get their share of the broadband funding pot from the government to ensure the rollout of improved broadband services.

It has been announced recently that millions of pounds has now been allocated by the government to expand the provision of improved broadband services across rural areas in England and Scotland. Nearly three hundred and sixty three million pounds has been allocated to these broadband improvements for rural areas according to reports.

One of the largest shares of the total funding pot for improved broadband services, which totals five hundred and thirty million pounds in total, has gone to Cumbria, which has been awarded over seventeen million pounds due to having more than ninety six percent of homes that are eligible for subsidies. London, on the other hand, gets nothing as private investment is expected to cover all areas within London.

The decision over how the money will be spent will be made jointly by local residents in the areas and local authorities. County councils will need to develop delivery plans for their respective areas and many need to look at funding additional funding from other areas. They will effectively be put in charge of the broadband rollouts in their respective areas.

In Scotland it will be the Scottish government that decides how its share of the funding pot will be used for improved broadband in its rural areas. However, officials from the Scottish government have said that they are not happy with the amount that Scotland has been awarded from the funding pot, claiming that it is not enough.

Source – BBC