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Interested in lobbying BT for Broadband access?
Contact
us!
Tuesday 27th January 2004
ADSL Guide report
"BT Wholesale are carrying out a number of technical evaluations on ways to
extend the reach of ADSL services beyond the current limits."
http://www.adslguide.org.uk/newsarchive.asp?item=1522
My Inbox
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I still can't get broadband. I have ntl cable and a BT line. Nothing
doing here for Great Linford. Why is this? Anita, Great Linford |
I get no response from BT in my quest for Broadband. My
next-door neighbour has had it for two years, yet they refuse to help in
anyway. I tried 150. My broadband line test fails and their procedure won't
allow them to discuss or explain further. Eventually after arguing I got put
through to wholesale who checked the route to the exchange, it turns out to
be the same as my neighbour so they then suggested a line fault. - Therefore
I must dial 151 which I did only to be told it was not their problem - as
long as the line worked for voice they won't help further. Back to wholesale
and a different contact who refused to discuss it because OFCOM don't allow
them to discuss cases with individual consumers. They told me don't even
have to give an explanation as to why it won't work.
My next approach is to order a 3rd line for my house which I don't need in
the hope it may work.
Cheers,
Don, Loughton |
I am fed up
a. Postcode says I can get broadband
b. Map of Milton Keynes on your site says I can get broadband
c. Mr Smalls BT map says I can get broadband
d. BT's telephone number check says I can't.
I am loath to order the modem and installation without knowing if I can use
them when I get them.
I live on Blue Bridge
Peter[Get in touch with Serena
or Tina at BT. The line is fine. Other people in Blue Bridge have
Broadband.] |
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Does anyone know if you can get Broadband in Tattenhoe? James
[I think Tattenhoe will be fine for Broadband. You're next door to
Emerson Valley where there's an ADSL enabled phone exchange.
Also, no residents in Tattenhoe have made themselves known to the group: my
conclusion is that Tattenhoe is OK.] |
I hope you can help.
I remember seeing one on your leaflets the other day, and ignored it
(thinking it wasn't relevant).
However, I have recently requested Broadband access through my employer for
home access. I've just been advised of the following by my employer -
'Your exchange has broadband ADSL. However, the length of the telephone line
between you and the exchange is too long for broadband ADSL. It may be
possible that broadband will become available to you in the future, but this
depends upon BT extending the distance allowed between the house and the
exchange'
I live on Paxton Crescent, do you know what the timescales are for the line
being extended?
Many thanks for your assistance,
Jaspal[Neil Replies:
Thanks for your email. The message you were given by your employer has
come from a 'broadband checker' (see, for example,
www.bt.com/broadband ). These
checkers express things in terms of distance from the exchange, but it
really relates to the overall quality of the line - distance being just one
factor. In Shenley Lodge we suffer from being a fairly long way from the
exchange (which is called Bradwell Abbey but which is actually in
Fishermead), but also from having generally poor-quality wires. This means
that some of us can get broadband and some of us can't - it's a bit of a
lottery. I'm in Aston Close and can't get it, but some people in Paxton
Crescent HAVE got it. Being in Paxton you must be close to me - which number
are you?
Probably the only solution in the near future is for BT to improve the
quality of our lines by running in new cable, but there are obvious
commercial reasons why they are not always keen to do this. The 'Broadband
for MK' campaign group (at www.bb4mk.org, which you've already discovered)
has got a good dialogue going on with BT, and has a spectacular record of
success in certain parts of MK (all described on the website). We have been
lobbying BT hard for an overall solution, and have been told by BT to expect
"pleasant news" very soon now - although we don't know what this news will
be, nor when it will come, so we aren't holding our breath!
In the meantime I can suggest two things you might like to consider.
The first is to join our group, which involves simply registering your
details via the website and (optionally) receiving occasional e-newsletters
which keep you in touch with progress. The second is to offer yourself for
the MK Council/NTL wireless pilot,
which might give you broadband, free, until June 2004 and then potentially
forever after (for a fee) if it gets rolled out. I'm enjoying this service
myself, and couldn't be happier with it.
Finally, if you'd like to meet some like-minded souls and have a chat about
it all, come down to the Old Beams any time from 8.30 pm next Thursday, 29
Jan. You'll find us by looking for the
Pringles can!
And finally finally, if you ever see any white vans with huge drums of cable
lurking around Shenley Lodge, please do let me know ASAP; that could well be
the beginning of the end of our problems.
Best regards
Neil ] |
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I have found out the cable between Middleton and the exchange in
Fishermead has been commissioned, but it looks like BT are have a few
internal problem about how users get moved on this cable because of OFCOM
rules. My BT account manager has promised me an email with a better
update.
Regards
Mr Mole |
I'm successfully connected to Broadband!
I would like to continue as a member of the MK Broadband Action Group and as
my workload is beginning to move to a more sensible level I hope within the
next couple of weeks to manage to attend and meet you all in person.
Many thanks for the efforts you have made without which I am sure this
e-mail would be unnecessary!
Cheers
Mick, Bradwell |
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