'Rural Broadband through Social Enterprise' - first promoted by Stephen Timms MP earlier this year - will get a further boost in his address at the national ruralnet|2003 conference next week, in Wyboston, Cambridge.
'Rural Broadband through Social Enterprise' - first promoted by Stephen Timms MP earlier this year - will get a further boost in his address at the national ruralnet|2003 conference next week, in Wyboston, Cambridge.
The Minister of State for Energy, e-Commerce and Postal Services will announce support from the Rural Broadband Unit and Social Enterprise Unit of the DTI and DEFRA to the Community Broadband Network (CBN), a new initiative to link communities who have taken a DIY approach to local broadband provision. He will voice his support for these pioneering DIY approaches, which have shown potential to provide broadband in areas the market does not reach. These social enterprises are driven by need rather than profit and are community owned. For their success, it will be vital that they exchange experience with each other so that lessons are learnt, pitfalls avoided and wheels not reinvented. The Community Broadband Network, proposed and managed by ruralnet|uk and The Phone Co-op, will ensure DIY projects help each other to proceed on a sound business basis. Getting the legal structure right is a key component in the success of any social enterprise and the Minister will highlight the launch, at the conference, of Co-operativesUK's incorporation toolkit, including sets of model rules. This is specifically geared towards the needs of communities eager to bring broadband to their area.
The conference is being sponsored by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) which awarded funding to connect 21 communities earlier this year as part of its drive to increase access for rural areas in the region.
ruralnet|uk's annual conferences motivate, inspire and challenge those who work to improve the life of the socially excluded in rural areas. This year is no exception: the thrust of the conference does not depend on technology alone, but puts it in the context of wider development practices and the best new thinking. "This year we bring the 'Sustainable Livelihoods Approach' to the UK, and we hope this will change the way we think about tackling rural poverty in this country",says ruralnet|uk's Chief Executive Simon Berry.
Keynote speaker, Dr Ian Goldman from South Africa, is a key proponent of this approach, now adopted by our own Department for International Development (DFID) and the United Nations in the design and monitoring of effective interventions in developing countries.
This theme will be brought alive by relating it to current rural development issues such as rural broadband, social enterprise and sustainability.
The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) will be demonstrating its Community Broadband Toolkit which is being launched on the South East regional portal, SEEOnline. SEEOnline.net is the interactive regional forum for private and public sector organisations and the many groups representing those living and working in the South East. The 'Creating a Broadband Community' website has been devised by SEEDA to help individuals come together within an area to enable a Broadband network through the use of wireless technology.
The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) are the primary sponsors of the conference.
"We are very grateful to the record number of sponsors of ruralnet|2003 who have funded the free places scheme. We are pleased to have been able to offer a place to all those who applied. It is crucial that ruralnet conferences are balanced by the participation of community activists. Without the support of sponsors this would not be possible," Simon Berry said.
Notes to editors
1 The sponsors of ruralnet|2003 are: EDDA (principal sponsor),
Co-operativesUK, the Countryside Agency, the Countryside Exchange,
Potton, SEEDA
2 The ruralnet|2003 conference programme can be found at
www.ruralnet.org.uk/2003
3 ruralnet|uk's website is at www.ruralnetuk.org/index.htm
4 The phone Co-op's website is at: www.phone.coop
5 Co-operativesUK are the apex body for co-operative enterprises will be exhibiting at ruralnet|2003. For more information on Co-operativesUK see www.cooperatives-uk.coop
6 Video footage of the Minister on rural broadband issues is available from Paul Duckett, SEEDA - PaulDuckett@seeda.co.uk and 07768 372442. This can be produced in Beta format for TV use in time for the event.
7 A limited number of press passes are available. Please book these in
advance by called 0845 1300 411
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