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Better Broadband

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James Heappey Somerset Broadband

For most businesses - and for many residential users too - broadband speeds and poor mobile signals are a constant frustration. Whilst competitors elsewhere in the country can upload documents, live stream or operate through large online databases, we spend hours each week staring at a screen telling us to wait or that service has dipped out altogether.  In a global economy where every second counts, Somerset is being held back.

James is campaigning to accelerate the roll out of superfast broadband with an emphasis on bringing it to the areas that are furthest from the main roads and mainline railway first.  For businesses in those areas, broadband speeds are the key infrastructure issue - it is their connection with the world outside.

As our economy grows and local businesses think about their plans for the future, policy makers in Somerset need to be reminded that relocation to Bristol, Bath or larger towns in the county will be the only option if they can't get the connectivity they need to support their business in their existing location.  James believes we need to stop this squeeze on the economy in this part of the county and, instead, be attracting businesses to come here from elsewhere.

In James' meetings with the Broadband Minister and with Connecting Devon & Somerset (CDS), he was pleased to see that 86% of the properties in Draycott and Rodney Stoke should be able to access superfast broadband after their local cabinet was upgraded by CDS during the first phase of the Government funded rollout. However, thus far, only 13% of properties have taken the opportunity to connect.

Receiving a superfast connection is not automatic once the network locally has been upgraded. Instead, one will need to contact an Internet Service Provider in order to switch to a ‘fiber enabled’ broadband package. There is a real benefit in doing so because CDS and BT agreed when setting the contract for Phase 1 that public money would be repaid if the uptake exceeded the benchmark for a commercial deployment.

James is particularly excited with the Connecting Devon & Somerset’s excellent voucher scheme which will provide an immediate improvement for those with the very worst broadband.

James knows that broadband has been a frustration for many over the last few years and that it is never any consolation to know how well the deployment is going elsewhere. However, he is now making good progress and he will continue to apply pressure to ensure that continues.

"We have the well-educated, high skilled workforce, we have brilliant schools, our towns and villages are charming and they're surrounded by magnificent countryside" said James.  "The quality of life arguments are already won but if we want businesses here in our part of Somerset rather than our towns simply being a dormitory for Bristol, Bath, Taunton and Yeovil; we need the infrastructure that is so essential for businesses in a modern, high speed economy where customers could be in Beijing as easily as they could be in Bridgwater."

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James's Broadband Information Sheet 601.46 KB

News

Superfast Broadband Comes To 401 Homes And Businesses In Brean

Thursday, 9 June, 2016

Three New Cabinets Make Superfast Broadband Available To 401 Homes And Businesses In Brean

High-speed Broadband In Axbridge Delivers Boost For Tourism

Wednesday, 30 March, 2016

More than 10,500 homes and businesses across the exchange areas of Axbridge, Cheddar, Street and Wells can now access superfast speeds of more than 24mbps, thanks to the Connecting Devon and Somerset Broadband (CDS) programme. The huge broadband boost for these towns is helping to create jobs, boost the economy and create local growth.

Wells MP Meets With Connecting Devon And Somerset

Wednesday, 25 November, 2015

Today in Parliament James met with the Connecting Devon And Somerset team to discuss their progress on the roll out and highlight the concerns of local residents in areas that were missing out in Phase 1.

Wells MP Raises Broadband With Chancellor

Wednesday, 25 November, 2015

Wells MP Raises Broadband With Chancellor

MP Discusses Broadband Roll Out With BT

Tuesday, 3 November, 2015

Today in Parliament, James met with Joe Garner, the CEO of Openreach, and representatives from BT to discuss broadband and the progress of the Connecting Devon and Somerset programme.

Cheddar Valley MP Chairs Public Meeting On Broadband

Friday, 30 October, 2015

Cheddar Valley MP James Heappey chaired a public meeting on the superfast broadband rollout in Badgworth.

MP James Heappey Raises Concerns About Superfast Broadband Rollout

Monday, 12 October, 2015

MP James Heappey Raises Concerns About Superfast Broadband Rollout

James Heappey calls for BT to forfeit rights to commercial broadband roll out

Friday, 11 September, 2015

Local MP, James Heappey, yesterday called for BT to forfeit their rights to deliver a commercial broadband roll out if they fail to complete the upgrade within a certain time limit. 

Wells MP Raises Broadband In Parliament

Thursday, 10 September, 2015

Wells MP Raises Broadband In Parliament

James Heappey MP: Delivering superfast broadband remains my top priority

Tuesday, 30 June, 2015

James's statement on the collapse of the Connecting Devon & Somerset Phase 2 contract negotiations

My Campaigns

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Useful Websites

 

Connecting Devon & Somerset

This is the key website for checking out likely broadband improvements in your area.

 

Broadband Delivery UK

Read the government's policy on superfast broadband roll-out with lots of information on how it is to be delivered.

 

Countryside Alliance

The Countryside Alliance are running an excellent campaign to improve broadband and mobile signals. Follow the link above to get more information.

 

Ofcom

Ofcom regulates the UK mobile phone industry and maintains all the data on mobile coverage across the UK. The maps on the Ofcom website are useful for a feel of how Somerset compares with the rest of the country.

Latest News

Nov 5:  James welcomes government action on improved mobile phone coverage in Somerset.  Read more here.

Aug 14:  James comments on the new mapping on the updated Connecting Devon and Somerset website.  Read more here.

Jul 14:  James organises and hosts the Superfast Somerset event at the Swan Hotel in Wells, bringing business people from across the area together to talk about their broadband and mobile signal concerns with new Culture Secretary Sajid Javid.

Jul 14:  James gets updated on the Connecting Devon & Somerset project by the delivery team at Somerset County Council.

Jan 14:  Culture Secretary Maria Miller has visited Wells.  As the cabinet minister in charge of broadband speeds and mobile signals, James used her visit to raise local concerns over broadband speeds and mobile signals.

Dec 13:  James has launched a huge survey project to ask local people what they think about their broadband speeds and mobile signals. Thousands of people have replied from across the area.

Oct 13:  James has pledged his support to the Countyside Alliance's 'Sick Of No Signal' campaign.  Support their work by downloading their coverage app to your phone.  Read the report here.

James Heappey Member of Parliament for the Wells Constituency

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Promoted by Jonathan Fraser-Howells on behalf of James Heappey, both of 16 Northgate, Bridgwater, TA6 3EU.
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