Lynton, Lynmouth and Exmoor Advertiser, December 2019

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DECEMBER 2019 7
Superfast broadband public consultation launched
A public consultation has been launched by Connecting Devon
and Somerset ahead of undertaking a fresh procurement to find
contractors to provide superfast broadband.
CDS, which is responsible for rolling out broadband across the
two counties, is establishing the remaining area where there are
no current or credible future plans to deliver Next Generation Access broadband
infrastructure capable of download speeds of at least 30Mbps.
To establish the existing coverage of broadband infrastructure in the programme
area as well as that planned for the next three years, CDS carried out an Open
Market Review earlier this year.
This included commercial coverage by existing and prospective broadband
providers as well as coverage procured through CDS contracts. This has helped
CDS to establish the area where intervention is to be proposed, avoiding areas
where commercial investment is planned as public investment in broadband can
only take place in areas where there is no broadband infrastructure and where
none is planned in the next three years. Comments on these proposals are now
invited.
Consultation responses need to be submitted by Tuesday 10 December to
enquiries@connectingdevonandsomerset.co.uk. or in writing to OMR consultation,
Economy Team, AB2 Lucombe House, County Hall, Exeter, EX2 4QD.
The consultation will enable broadband providers to review the mapping to ensure
it correctly represents the information provided by them.
Full details on the OMR process and how to respond are available at
https://www.connectingdevonandsomerset.co.uk/cds-2019-omr-publicconsultation/
Responses to the consultation will help inform the final premises CDS will seek
solutions for when it launches a new procurement in December.
Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and
Skills and CDS board member, said: “We’re keen to extend the availability of Next
Generation Access infrastructure across the CDS area, and this public consultation
will enable us to set out the proposed areas where we will need to focus our
efforts. Having carried out our Open Market Review we have asked all known
broadband infrastructure providers for their existing and potential plans for new
network build in our area.”
https://www.devonnewscentre.info/
advertise@lyntonadvertiser.com 01598 752788