Faster Broadband

Make Horsmonden quicker

…and you can help!

Despite coming 11th in the country in the BT Race to Infinity – we still didn’t win an upgrade but we still desperately need faster broadband – particularly those on the edges of the Brenchley Exchange – and we have another chance through the “MakeKentQuicker” campaign. 

You can help by registering your vote on www.makekentquicker.com and, especially if you are a business user or want to work from home more, writing a letter (there are some ideas below to help you).

Fast broadband is now seen as an essential service and slow speeds are already affecting the value of homes.

Make Kent Quicker aims to provide access to superfast broadband to 90% of homes and businesses in Kent by 2015, and for everyone to have access to a service of at least 2Mb. This initiative is supported by Kent County Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council as well as Brenchley/Matfield and Horsmonden Parish Councils – but we need to demonstrate that there is demand and this is where we need your help. 

There are funds available and we are in the process of applying – but if we are going to be successful we must demonstrate there is a demand. Our need will be assessed by the number of votes received by the Make Kent Quicker campaign.  If you voted before for the Race to Infinity then you need to vote again – because it is a totally different campaign. 

As well as votes we also require letters of support from business and individuals who need fast broadband. These letters need to reflect the individual business/household needs and therefore we cannot supply a ‘template’ for you to simply add your name. 

The letter does not have to be addressed to anyone as they will be collated by us and form part of the application.  They do need to be on headed paper we suggest you include:

  • The type of business and relevant operational details (eg local, national, international client base)
  • Current use of broadband and problems faced due to poor connectivity/line speeds
  • How the provision of superfast broadband would help your business

The latter two points may not be easy to answer so here are some considerations, phrases etc which might help you.

  • Is your line so slow that you are unable to download large or moving images? 
  • Are you wasting a lot of time waiting for websites to upload?
  • Does your line regularly drop off?
  • Are you unable to send or receive large files?
  • Do you make orders/shop on line? 
  • Do you have internet banking?
  • Do you maintain your own website or blog?
  • Does your business use Facebook, Twitter and other Social Media sites?
  • Is the internet an important tool/facility to you/your business but you are unable to use if fully due to the slow speeds?
  • Have you considered moving your business/home to a place where broadband is faster?
  • Would you like to be able to stream programmes?
  • Do you need to make returns to government departments or other bodies (eg HMRC for PAYE, VAT etc)?
  • Do you need to speak to customers/suppliers using Skype?
  • Do you need to do research?
  • Paying a high price for your broadband but feel that you are not getting value for money?
  • Do you feel you are disadvantaged because you live/work in a rural area? 
  • Do you feel people living/working in a rural area are considered less important because we are few in number?
  • Do you feel that we already cope with lack of other infrastructure (eg public transport, mobile signals etc) and that slow/poor broadband makes you feel cut off/isolated?
  • Do you feel people in the towns who already have fast broadband don’t realise how lucky they are?
  • Do all the advertisements for superfast broadband annoy you when we can’t even get a reasonable connection speed? 
  • Do you feel that it is unfair that we pay the same BBC licence fee but do not have the benefit of i-player?
  • Do you feel your children are disadvantaged when it comes to homework or even playing computer games?

Deadline for letters is 30 June. Once you have written your letter please either e-mail or give it to Nick May or Diana Syrett.

Race for Infinity 2010/2011

The Race to Infinity was a nationwide competition run by BT whereby members of the public and local businesses could vote to get our superfast fibre broadband, BT Infinity, in our Brenchley exchange.

The top 6 exchanges with the most registered interest as a % of the total telephone exchange size on 31st December 2010 were be added to BT’s fibre rollout plan. Exchanges needed to get a minimum of 1,000 votes in order to enter the race.

FINAL POSITION

3/1/11: We achieved 1,025 votes have been cast out of a total of 1,952 over 52%. That means we have achieved our target to enable us to continue the campaign.

What the result means…

  • We are the Number 1 exchange in Kent
  • We achieved 11 out of 2,500 exchanges
  • We qualified by achieving over 1,000 votes
  • We ran a successful co-operative campaign with Brenchley and Matfield

Horsmonden Infinity Team

We have a small team co-ordinating the Horsmonden effort with the Brenchley and Matfield team.

  • Neil Rigby
  • Richard Webb
  • Jane March

Horsmonden Parish Council view

HPC is excited at the idea of faster broadband and the advantages it could bring to those who live and work in Horsmonden. An enthusiastic group of residents is encouraging those who have yet to vote to support the Brenchley Exchange to do so by visiting each household with information about voting online and help for those unsure of the process. Thank you for your support.“
Jane March, Chairman of Horsmonden Parish Council

bt race to infinity