Broadband for Monkston and Middleton

Dear Mr Small,

I am a member of a group of individuals (perhaps upwards of 160 or so) who are encouraging broadband providers to take a risk and come into the relatively poorly served area of Milton Keynes.

As a director of BT I feel that I would like you to know how strongly so many people feel about the poor coverage that the eastern flank of Milton Keynes has with broadband. I live in the Middleton area of the city and work from home. My employer who is a semiconductor manufacturer based in California just expects that its employees have broadband as a 'given'. All of my colleagues in the UK, Europe and beyond have broadband. Even in areas such as Sandy and Langford in Bedfordshire have broadband provided by NTL. However in Eastern Milton Keynes we don't.

As a member of the Milton Keynes Chamber of commerce and also a director of BT, I would expect that you would have a vested interest in making sure that broadband is provided to as many homes as possible. I and so many of my neighbours have a Small Office/Home Office set up and are being hampered by the poor state of broadband services. Broadband is now an integral and important part of the UK's infrastructure like having a plain old telephone service. However, this imperative does not seem to be seen as important to BT as it does to so many of your customers.

The group that has been set up to get broadband coverage is doing everything possible to apply pressure on MK Council, BT, NTL and several wireless broadband service providers. As MK Chamber of Commerce President where you are "Responsible for agreeing the strategic direction of the Chamber and ensuring it acts on behalf of the membership as the voice of business" and also a director at BT, I would be very interested to hear your comments regarding the poor coverage that BT has in Milton Keynes and how that impacts the efficiency of conducting business in this area as I feel that this is an issue which should be of great importance to you.

Yours sincerely,

David Hoskins

Dear Mr Small

You are in an interesting position: A man with 2 hats. President of the MK Chamber of Commerce, and Director of BT.

The Chamber of Commerce is a worthy cause. As director of Iconographic Systems Ltd, Wolverton Mill, between 1990 and 1997 we benefited from membership in various ways: Hiring the conference room; Trading Standards questions; CE Mark introduction; Health and Safety discussions; Business "networking".

So you'll gather I'm happy with the MK Chamber of Commerce. A fine worthwhile body. A useful ally for a small business. Can't get enough of it.

As for BT.

I find myself representing 160 residents in and around Milton Keynes that are bereft of Broadband. (If my language is getting a bit prosaic it's because I'm fed up of shouting "We want Broadband!")

I understand why Monkston is fed by TPON. I understand the technicalities of attenuation and noise crosstalk on the copper cabling to Milton Keynes Village.

I'm wearied by the misdirected dialog of "Is your Bradwell Abbey exchange ADSL enabled? You need 200 people to register."

The only problem with the exchange is that it's too far away.

Why won't anyone from BT inform our community of a solution?

There is talk of a wireless solution. As an engineer I'm dubious about that. Cable underground is better.

Do I have to waste your time by mentioning how ludicrous it is to move to the Modern City of Milton Keynes, to take residence in our new houses in Monkston where the plaster has barely dried out, only to find we are not served with Broadband?

When is BT going to give us Broadband?

Can you find someone in BT that will give us an informed reply?

Regards

Nick Hubbard
Coordinator MK Broadband Lobby Group
http://www.bb4monkston.co.uk/
(The naming of the group has been difficult. It started off with just "Broadband For Monkston". I'm staggered that the problem covers most of the "Eastern Flank")

I will ask my secretary to call you and see if we can meet soonest.

I should be grateful if you could advise if there is anyone else that you may feel would like to attend. I am happy to meet everyone in your group but it may be useful if I met a small group to begin with as discussion may be easier.

Regards

John Small