Milton Keynes Broadband Action Group

Interested in lobbying BT for Broadband access? Contact us!

Wednesday 18th February 2004 

MK Broadband Workshop

If you're interested in attending the quarterly workshops, get in touch with the council.

Here's a model email you may want to use:

For the attention of Sarah Harwood, 01908 252057/ sarah.harwood@milton-keynes.gov.uk

I am a member of the BB4MK broadband campaign group and a MK resident directly affected by the lack of ADSL provision in parts of the City.
I would be very interested to attend the initial broadband coordination meeting scheduled for 24 March, and further meeting scheduled quarterly.
Would you kindly put me on the attendance list.

Line conditions improve in Middleton

A Middleton resident has noticed his phone line has improved. His dial up speeds are faster. Here's his correspondence with BT:

Serena,
I have been struggling with dial up internet access from Wolston Meadow in Middleton for a long time (4 years) and best speeds I were getting was 36.6Kb/s. But over the last 2 to 3 weeks I have noticed a dramatic increase in speed, I can now get 46.4Kb/s so I guess the rumours that were about on the bb4mk back in December about Middleton getting a new wire run in must have been true and it is now in use. However the broadband availability checker at www.bt.com/broadband says that my line is still too long is this because the checker has not been updated or that I am still too far away or I have not been connected to the new line just the line I am on now has less noise due to others being moved off?

If the availability checker has not been updated is it worth me applying again yet or not?

Can you confirm if my number has been rewired as I expect?

Thanks

Thank you for your mail.

Unfortunately I cannot provide any explanation with respect to your recent observations in access speeds. I can also confirm that work has currently been underway in Milton Keynes as part of a general UK repair and maintenance programme and currently, this has no direct impact on the availability of broadband in the Middleton area.

In light of this, the current status of your line remains as before and currently unable to support a broadband service. I am sorry that you will find this news disappointing but please do keep in touch with the MK action group as we will post any relevant updates through them directly.

Regards
Serena

 If any one else in Middleton has noticed an improved dial up connection speed, let me know.

My Inbox

I live in Milton Keynes and am desperate for a Broadband Connection!

Connie, Shenley Lodge
 
I sent an e-mail to MK Council [broadbandtrial@milton-keynes.gov.uk]  via their BB website a week ago last Friday enquiring. I followed it up with another last Friday requesting an acknowledgement of receipt (apart from the auto-reply). No response, so I phoned them today and the chap there said an application form would be put in the post today or tomorrow. So, I'll watch the post!

I will also give Serena another call to enquire whether there is anything "going-on". My partner spotted some BT activity on Watling St. between Loughton & Shenley Church End and Crownhill yesterday. She also spotted 2 BT vans at the Livesey Hill end of Paxton Crescent. this morning, but they were gone by lunchtime. No idea what they were doing though!

Anyway, I'll keep my fingers crossed for a speedy installation.

Regards,

Frank, Shenley Lodge
 
Two (more) questions for this Friday –

1. As a variation on the usual question "What's the situation with gird square XXX?", would you perhaps ask how Bradley Borum has got on since November with auditing the City's cable runs. Back then you reported that she had audited 29 of the 52 estates; has the job now been completed, and if so what is the result? If not, when will it be completed?

2. Would you please seek clarification of BT's national announcement that they will bring BB within reach of 100% of the population by the end of 2005. Does this simply mean that 100% of exchanges will be enabled, or does it mean that 100% of the UK's citizens will be able to receive BB services from BT? (I guess this may have been stated already, in which case I apologise.)

Thanks, and the best of luck once again.

Neil, Shenley Lodge
 

I had a leaflet through my door today advertising MOO Broadband being now available in M.K.

It is wireless and costs £26.99 per month and £100-150 to install (ouch!)
The website is: www.moobroadband.co.uk

Jackie

[MK is not a rural community - Let's hope BT or NTL come up with something!]
 
I live in Old Farm Park and desperate to get Broadband, I hope I can join this campaign and get Broadband into my area.

Thanks

Matt
 

I live in Ravel Close, Old Farm Park and I have a working (and reliable) ADSL connection (from Freeserve via my BT PSTN line).

The database said that I was out of range. After much persuasion I had an engineer come to measure my phone line's attenuation.

"No problem!" the engineer said.

If the database is causing your members so much grief, why can't BT just do random tests around Milton Keynes. Surely they pick their own sample customers. They don't have to ask - it's all BT's property anyway.

Neil
 
Thanks for the e-mails keeping me up to date. (Made good reading.)

However no improvement on my situation. Last time I applied for Broadband I was told my line reading was 65dB. Is there anything I can do in the mean time any advice would be grateful

Thanks

Gavin, Bolbeck Park
 

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