People in rural areas have the same requirements for high speed internet access and much of farming red tape has to be carried out online - such as the registering of calf births for passports and recording of cattle movements.
The country and business landowners association reported yesterday, 3 march 2009, that Ofcom's statement that it will deregulate to encourage super-fast broadband fails in every respect to recognise the current plight of those in rural areas who cannot receive broadband and have to rely on dial-up connections. The statement continues:
'CLA President Henry Aubrey-Fletcher said: "Ofcom has yet again failed to understand the needs of rural communities. Quite simply, the practical effect of deregulating broadband will be to create such a gulf between rural and urban areas that the rural economy could find itself on its knees very soon. If we are not very careful, rural people will become second class citizens compared to those in urban conurbations.'
"The more Government wants to regulate rural business through the internet - for example with the Whole Farm Approach - the more important fast broadband in rural areas becomes. We must be given the tools with which to do the job – namely, affordable and effective broadband for all."'
'The CLA President added: "We accept common standard services for telephone, electric, water, roads, schools health and public transport – many being supported by public funds. If the private sector cannot find a way to fund broadband in rural areas, the tax payer must contribute. Rural areas have a fundamental part to play in the recovery of the economy.'
'"The CLA calls once more on both the public and the private sector to understand that neglecting rural Britain by failing to provide accessible broadband will turn a difficult position today into an intractable one for the future."'
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