Broadband have-nots stirred by 'local heroes'

NEWS Pressure group Broadband4Britain is currently signing up 'Local Heroes' to encourage the UK's broadband have-nots to be more vocal in their demands for high-speed net access. Broadband4Britain was formed a year ago among growing disenchantment in rural parts of the UK, as homes and businesses realised they were being bypassed by the high speed web revolution. Andy Williams, a founding member of Broadband4Britain, said: "We grew frustrated at the state of broadband in Britain. We spoke to service providers, but we couldn't get any answers that were reasonable - in many cases we couldn't even get any answers that were honest. "But now, our goal is to ensure that all businesses and homes are able to get some kind of broadband access by the end of 2003 which is affordable." By affordable Williams means sub-£30 for homes and sub-£75 for businesses with five or fewer connections. In trying to achieve this goal, Broadband4Britain has recruited the help of 'Local Heroes' who are signing up to champion the cause of the have-nots in their own areas of the country. One of the main reasons for the Local Hero campaign is to shoot down BT's claims about a lack of interest. If these Local Heroes can stir up demand for broadband then, William says, "the stock excuse, which is 'we would move faster if demand was greater'" will no longer be relevant. Already 150 people have signed up to be a Local Hero - keeping broadband on the news agenda both locally and nationally. In many cases they are also contacting their MPs and central government to publicise the plight of the UK's dial-up backwaters. One Local Hero is Trevor Sherman, who works from his home which is connected to the West Haddon exchange in Northants. Over time he had grown so frustrated at the lack of broadband availability that he took up the fight and signed up with Broadband4Britain. As well as working full-time, he now dedicates much of his time to the campaign - and urges others to do likewise - pointing out that if you want broadband then you have to fight for it. His advice to anybody else who wants to join the campaign for broadband is "don't think you are alone". Sherman set about personally contacting businesses and individuals in the West Haddon area. Everybody he spoke to was keen to get involved, but many had already given up on broadband, assuming it to be a lost cause. "It takes up a lot of my time, but I don't resent it at all," he said, adding that if he meets his self-imposed deadline of broadband for West Haddon by March 2003 then it will all have been worthwhile. But before March next year, Sherman is hopeful he may even get a trial DSLAM installed - such as those BT is testing in remote locations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. While only four tests are taking place currently, Sherman is hopeful that with the backing of his MP and local council he will be able to get a similar trial in West Haddon. He is also actively raising the £7,000 necessary to sponsor the trial.