USA leads the Way to First Mile Community FTTH

http://www.muninetworks.org/communitymap presents an inspiring vision of how the UK can do the community interest 4th Utility too.

Ian Grant Classic

Another A grade article by veteran industry watcher, Ian  Grant over at br0kent3l3ph0n3 lays thread-bare OFCOM's latest tinkering around the edges of Digitally Deprived Britain.

Problem identified in a sentence:

" ...rural subscribers need is competition between network operators based on infrastructure, not services. By not making BT either sell dark fibre or provide access to its passive infrastructure at cost, Ofcom is perpetuating BT’s monopoly in Market 1 areas."

Solution identified in two words:

STRUCTURAL SEPARATION (of BT infrastructure and OTT services langsung cepat-cepat)

Note to OFCOM:

Sure, the shock of change is important to manage sensitively but overdoing that consideration leads only to inertia and a chaotic eventual demise here for BT in its current form in any event.

The simple reality is that the Board of BT is tween rock and hard place...

As a PLC, BT Directors have a fundamental fiduciary responsibility to maximise shareholder value at all times ergo without a convincing case for existential threat (BARN stormers approaching...) then only external Regulatory direction will protect the interests of rural communities where legacy BT copper-broadband is concerned.

Is it time for Neelie Kroes to step in and steer Broadband Britain off the rocks?

NextGenUs Community Dividend Delivered

NANDS was the first NextGenUs community broadband network delivered under the social enterprise remit.

Following the completion of the first set of annual accounts a surplus was declared and duly returned according to the Community Interest Test to the Newton upon Rawcliffe and Stape Parish Council.

Pictured (left to right) receiving this community dividend cheque from NextGenUs CEO Guy Jarvis are parish councillor William Garrett, former PC Chair, Angela Hemingway and Playing Field Co-ordinator, Brian Anderson.

It is understood that the monies will be put towards improving and maintaining the children's play area pictured in the background.

NextGenUs Cumbria

On a lovely sunny weekend in deepest Eden, the finishing touches to the NextGenUs Cumbria FiWi deployment are made.

This network of networks links together islands of superfast symmetrical broadband across the Eden District of Cumbria, with plans to extend county-wide in place, driven, as always, by community demand.

With the BDUK fiasco now, as anticipated, excluding innovators from PQQs, frameworks and wotnot, according to leaked documents exposed by Computer Weekly, NextGenUs is proceeding without Public Subsidy and remains hopefully that Cumbria County Council may yet disregard BDUK and opt for the proven Welsh and French Broadband Voucher approach, on a post facto Value Match basis.

Safety First

Pole at the Ready

Into Position....

Job Done.

Pictures Speak Volumes!

Thanks to CyberDoyle for this classic.

BDUK is brainstorming behind the camera apparently