Broadband must become Wales’ fourth utility says Welsh local government
30 January 2009
Welsh local government has welcomed the review announced by the European Commission to make broadband a common universal service and in particular the additional €1 billion that could be invested in digital rural economies across European regions, including Wales.
Cllr Bob Bright, WLGA member of the EU Committee of the Regions (CoR) and Member of Newport Council said:
“This announcement is a vital step forward in connecting local communities across Europe and supports CoR’s wider plan to bring broadband to every home across the 27 Member States by 2012. In this day and age where businesses and individuals rely so heavily on technology, broadband must become as easily accessible as any other utility. It must become the fourth utility.”
“Broadband is an absolute necessity both in terms of jobs and our future digital economy, particularly in rural Wales where the communication “not spots” are infamous. These additional EU resources, which will hopefully find their way through the Structural Funds Programme and the Rural Development Plans will be vital to sustaining the future digital economy of these disadvantaged areas.”
Cllr Cheryl Green (Bridgend), WLGA Spokesperson for e-Government added: that “Welsh local government recognises the absolute necessity of these technologies for our local economy in Wales and is fully supportive of the CoR initiative. I hope that this new EU approach can help drive forward ambitious plans for Wales, at a time when they are most needed.”
The Committee of the Regions is formally responding to a set of EU proposals to review the 2003 Universal Service directive that currently ensures regulators like OFCOM in each of the Member States guarantees phone lines, phone books and access to emergency numbers for all.
This issue has also been debated at length by the WLGA Rural Forum which remains equally concerned that in the absence of effective of broadband services, people living and working in rural Wales are hugely disadvantaged, particularly given the current economic downturn.
Cllr Bright will present his final report for approval by the 344-strong Committee of the Regions (CoR) Plenary in Brussels on Friday 12th February.
Ends
Notes for editors
• Cllr Bob Bright is the official spokesperson for the Committee of the Regions in Brussels
• CoR is the political assembly that provides local and regional authorities with a voice at the heart of the European Union. Established in 1994, the CoR was set up to address two main issues; to ensure local and regional representatives have a say in the development of new EU laws; and also as a way to bridge the gap between the public and the EU by involving the elected level of government closest to the citizens. It produces well researched reports that underline the added value or short fall of European Commission proposals before being implemented by regulators and local authorities in the UK
• The WLGA Rural Forum is made up of Leaders and Chief Executives from Wales largest rural authorities