Agenda item

The Chairman welcomed Daniel Shamplin-Hall, Advisor, to the Board. Dan provided members with an update on the current national digital connectivity policy context and the work of the Board’s Rural Digital Connectivity Working Group.

The following comments were made by members:

Members responded positively to the Government’s move to ensure all new build homes are connected to full fibre broadband. They believe the Board and Working Group should continue to push for universal coverage of 4G coverage and encourage Ofcom to undertake more advanced coverage mapping of rural and non-met areas.

In response to a query regarding how well the UK’s broadband compare with other Western countries does, the Board were informed that the UK does well with superfast broadband, with coverage at 96 percent, but does not compare well to other countries when it comes to full fibre broadband with only 5 percent coverage. This compared to 40 percent in Spain and over 90 percent in South Korea.

Members welcomed the digital handbook.

Decision:

1.    Members noted the activity of the Group to date.

2.    Members welcomed the content of the proposed ‘councillors digital connectivity handbook’

3.    Members feedback and agreed on areas the Group plans to focus on over the coming political cycle