At the end of last month, the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee launched an Inquiry into rural broadband provision.
It takes place ahead of the introduction of a new agricultural support payment (the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Single Payment Scheme) which comes into force from January 2015.
You might be wondering why these two issues are connected?
Online applications only
Well, farmers can only make applications through the (CAP) Single Payment Scheme by doing it online.
As has been reported in the news over the last few days, many farmers in rural areas suffer with very patchy mobile reception or even a total lack of broadband provision, hence the concern.
Osman: “Vital rural areas have same speeds as urban areas”
James Osman, Isle of Wight National Farmers’ Union adviser and Island farmer told OnTheWight,
“With government targets for 95% of homes to have access to 2 Mbps broadband by 2017, some farmers are likely to be left as the 5% without any decent broadband coverage. Many farming systems have been moved online, including reporting cattle & sheep movements and applications for CAP support payments, as the government goes ‘digital by default’.
“For farmers on the Isle of Wight who want to embrace new technology, slow broadband speeds can be very frustrating. In addition to this, many Island farmers have diversified in to other businesses which require the internet, such as online sales of farm produce and it’s vital that all rural areas have the same broadband speeds as urban areas.”
The Isle of Wight’s own roll-out was delayed prior to the final go-ahead to spend around £3m being given in August. BT had to agree to a number of conditions put in place by the Cabinet.
Support will be offered
Officials say the Rural Payments Agency provide “a range of additional support” for those who can’t get online, but the Inquiry will no doubt be wanting to know about any delays that have occurred in the roll out of rural broadband across the UK.
Deadline for Inquiry
The deadline for submissions of evidence is Wednesday 19 November 2014.
You can submit your evidence online via the Commons Select Committee Website.
