Milton Keynes Broadband Action Group
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Friday 16th January 2004
Lords Debate on the Internet and Broadband Access
Hansard's report on the Lords debate, on Wednesday 14th January. A new slant on peer-to-peer networking.
"Will the Minister elaborate on the workings of the broadband aggregation project, and explain what assistance is likely to be given to the private sector? Will he also tell us how that will benefit those members of society who are currently digitally excluded?"
"...the Government's figures for take-up include connections operating at 128kbps; that is, data transfer speeds operating at approximately double a standard dial-up connection. Yet most people, even the regulator itself, regard "true" broadband as services offering data transfer speeds in excess of 500kbps"
"In 2001, about 250,000 people were using broadband in the United Kingdom. Last year there were 3 million and the figure is growing."
"It has become not a like-to-have issue, but a must-have for business."
"My experience in trying to get ADSL so that I could ... gain access to the parliamentary system at home was very interesting. I dialled into BT to find out whether I could receive it on my home phone number. At first it could not be done, but then BT enabled the local exchange for ADSL and I was told that I was 6.5 kilometres away and could not receive the service. I am about 3.5 kilometres away as the crow flies so I raised an objection, particularly as I discovered that a house 100 yards could receive it through including its telephone number. BT said that I was definitely too far away. I asked the location exchange but they could not help me. The good news is that I now seem to have moved within the 6.5 kilometre distance and I shall be offered broadband after all. Whether the house or the exchange moved I am not sure."
"The Government said that we would all be enabled by 2005 and BT could see lots of money on the horizon. It said that it was too expensive and there was a stand-off while it was decided who would pay. That is why we have the terrible catch-up situation now."
"...there is an effective overwhelming monopoly exercised by BT in providing broadband services over its network and a dominant overall position."
"88 per cent of 16 to 24 year-olds used the Internet in October 2003."
"Broadband makes what the Internet has promised for so long a reality for individual consumers."
I can't get it, but my neighbour can!
The Earl of Erroll's experience, quoted above, of "a house 100 yards [away] could receive it" is similar to the 4 emails I've just received:
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My new neighbour whose house is only 5 yd away has just got BT broadband. I,
with the same postcode, am told that I live to far away. I understand that
just because I live next door is no guarantee that the phone cable goes from
his house to mine.
What is spooky is that the previous owner of his house couldn't get
broadband either! |
| A big thank you for all of the advice and information BB4MK
has supplied me. I have been trying to get broadband since mid November, but kept getting the BT stonewall (bad line quality, too far away, etc). But having found out a neighbour two doors away has got Broadband, I followed your advice of being a pain in BT's side! And eventually it worked. I have gone through about half a dozen ISP's and finally found one that didn't have problems with BT. It is great. |
| To inform you and the group I now have Broadband access in
Foxley Place (off Redland Drive), in Loughton. Look like I have the link via
Bradwell Abbey (Fishermead). BT finally gave access on a new business line installed in July. ASDL is working well with a 512kpbs link max. BT have advised a 1Mb link is not possible on the line. As a note ASDL is only available on the new business line. It is not available on my home number, installed at the same time. We moved that number from Linceslade Grove, Loughton, where ASDL was also not available. Regards Andy, Loughton [It seems that BT follow their installation procedure
rigorously, to the extent of throwing common sense to the wind! |
| I live at in Ebbsgrove (off Linceslade Grove), Loughton,
and according to BT I cannot get broadband.
Yet my next door neighbour has ADSL broadband. |
The group has to be careful with this!
Anyone seen some BT activity?
On Tuesday I saw some vans around Fishermead H7 near the telephone
exchange. Manholes were open.
On Thursday Richard spotted some BT vans with some suspicious types skulking
about Willen.
Today Friday:
Scot, collecting his sarnies from Willen, noticed "2 BT vans, with a load of
what looked like cabling equipment unloaded from the back, could not see any
workers so could not ask any questions."
Neil saw 2 BT vans running in cable on V8 adjacent to Downs Barn at 12:45.
By 14:00 they were running in cable from a drum. (I should always have a
camera with me!) A quick reccy around Great Linford and Bolbeck Park showed
all was quiet - so I assume the work is for
Willen / Willen Park.
Have you seen anything? We need more spies!
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