Calls for ‘Scotland’s share’ of UK government’s broadband funding

● Scots missing out on 10Mbps promise labelled ‘grossly unfair’

A funding programme touted as delivering high-speed broadband to 100 per cent of UK properties has been labelled “grossly unfair” for potentially short changing Scotland.

Rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing has written to the UK Culture Secretary calling for Scotland to be given its share of UK broadband funding.

The Scottish Government said Scotland would receive no benefits from the UK government’s Universal Service Obligation (USO) to deliver 10Mbps broadband to 100 per cent of premises, with all Scottish premises deemed ineligible.

Mr Ewing said it would be “grossly unfair” if people in Scotland were excluded from the USO despite contributing funding.

He has written to the UK government to demand clarity over what Scotland stands to receive from the obligation.

Mr Ewing has asked Matt Hancock – the UK government’s secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport – for confirmation the USO would tie in with Scotland’s own ‘Reaching 100 per cent’ broadband programme and allow the Scottish Government to access some benefits.

Speaking ahead of his appearance at the Scottish Affairs Committee tomorrow,

0 Westminster has promised to deliver 10Mbps broadband to 100 per cent of premises, but Scottish properties are deemed ‘ineligible’ ly our rural areas, and instead rely on an entirely industryled model, which would leave large parts of rural Scotland completely disconnected.”

The Scottish Government claimed in January it had met a key target to provide 95 per coverage in Scotland of stateof-the-art fibre broadband.

Mr Ewing said: “Whilst we are currently procuring our own £600 million ‘Reaching 100 per cent’ programme to connect all Scottish premises, the collaboration we seek would allow us to unlock sigmr nificant savings to which Scottish consumers have a right. I have therefore asked the secretary of state for digital for clarity about whether the UK government intends to collaborate and avoid cutting Scottish consumers out completely.”

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the USO minimum speed would initially be set at least 10Mbps, but stressed that minimum level was expected to be increased over time.