Details about broadband for all released

The government has released some details relating to the broadband for all scheme that the Prime Minister Gordon Brown mentioned earlier this year.

Earlier this year the Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that the government was earmarking funds to try and make broadband available to all families in the UK, adding that those without access to broadband were at a distinct disadvantage in a number of ways, including kids in those households having fewer educational tools and resources.

Some details relating to this plan have now been released according to recent reports. The government has now apparently identified the first twenty thousand families to receive help as part of the £300 million scheme, and these are households based in the Suffolk and Oldham areas, who will begin to benefit from the scheme from February of next year.

Families that want to benefit from grants of between one and seven hundred pounds will need to meet the necessary criteria, including being on an annual income of fifteen thousand pounds or less or being on benefits. These grants can then be used towards the purchase of a computer, Internet access, and technical support.

Schools Minister Jim Knight said: “There has to be a culture where families see home access is as important as making sure their children have pen, paper and calculator at school. The bottom line is that having home access to the internet or a computer is no longer an optional extra for school work – it is fast becoming essential. Schools are revolutionising how they educate faster than many families realise.” He added: “There is no substitute for good classroom teaching but day-to-day school work is increasingly web and computer based – and it is clear that students get better results where technology is used effectively at home to study, research and communicate.”