Superfast broadband ‘a basic human right’
Good quality broadband should be a basic utility like running water and electricity, a countywide group said.
North Yorkshire’s Rural Commission is now calling on Government to view reliable high-quality broadband provision as a basic human right, just like any other essential household service.
Hearing evidence on connectivity from a range of private and public sector broadband providers, commissioners said that access to good-quality broadband had never been more important – given the volume of home and remote working during the Covid-19 pandemic.
They also heard the importance of a broader national approach to include more widely accessible incentive voucher schemes and toolkits to help to stimulate community-led broadband programmes in remote areas.
Commissioners heard that the county council had made considerable progress in securing access to broadband to large swathes of the county.
In spite of all the progress, there are still around 49,000 peoplewhohavenobroadband coverage and the vast majority of these, nearly 38,000, live in remote rural areas.
Robert Ling, assistant director for technology and change at North Yorkshire County Council, said provision of superfast broadband into the most rural communities should carry the same value as for urban areas: “Rural areas can thrive if we can achieve a blend of digital connectivity which gives them similar access to those enjoyed by more urban areas.
“If anything, coronavirus has demonstrated that with the right connectivity you can participate around the world, so why not be based here?
However, any investment in infrastructure must be coupled with investment in skills and access to technologies for peopleandbusinessesbecause the two must work together to make sure the benefits of the infrastructurecanberealised.”
Rural Commission chair, The Very Rev Dean John Dobson, said: “There is an urgency now at a political level to tackle this issue. We have a window of opportunity provided by this crisis that cannot be missed.
“We must seize the moment to devolve more powers around access to funding and planning for infrastructure to local level to facilitate the rapid change necessary to do this.
“We must empower communities to work in a more dynamic way directly with providers.
“Whatwehaveheardisthat decisions on this crucial matter would be more effective if made here in North Yorkshire.”
Rural commissioner, Dr Debbie Trebilco, said: “Broadband and mobile technology need to be seen in exactly the same way as other essential utilities. As a humanitarian right, to support mental and physical health, education and jobs.
“Across all the previous evidence sessions we have heard about the importance of connectivity as the artery which makes everything happen and unlocks the county’s potential.”