Note of the Cromarty Firth Ward/Tain & Easter Ross Ward Forum
Held on 26.6.2013 at 7.30pm
In Tain Royal Academy, Tain

Agenda

Present:  
Cllr Jamie Stone (Chair)
Cllr Fiona Robertson
Cllr Mike Finlayson
Sandra Byrne (Community Broadband Scotland)
Jessica Mills (Community Broadband Scotland)
John Edmondson – Ardross Community Council
Bill Ray, Local Resident
Helen Ross  
Doug Kippen  -Nigg & Shandwick Community Council     
Val Pugh – Invergordon Community Council
Derek Louden – Tain Community Council
John Boocock  – Kilmuir & Logie Easter Community Council
Marilyn Wallace – Kilmuir & Logie Easter Community Council
                     
15 Members of Public

Item 
1. Welcome & Introductions

Cllr Jamie Stone welcomed everybody and introduced the speakers for the evening.

 

2. Community Broadband Scotland 

Jessica Mills and Sandra Byrne both Advisors with Community Broadband Scotland (CBS) gave an introduction to CBS, including definition of the some of the terms used, an overview of the current position and the role of Community Broadband Scotland in supporting communities who are not covered by the main Step Change programme.  During the presentation and discussion the following points were made, concerns and queries raised:
• CBS will respond to expression of interest and support community groups through project planning. However they can only support communities that meet set criteria (communities in which the majority of premises receive a standard broadband services of less than 2Mbps download, and are unlikely to see an uplift to above 2Mbps as part of the Step Change procurement). 
• Community solutions supported by CBS must be future proof and capable of delivering next generation speeds.  They could not provide funding for a satellite solution as currently that does not meet next generation broadband requirements.
• CBS can provide capital assistance up to a max of 89%. This must be for capital infrastructure costs (operational costs are not covered).   A minimum community contribution of 11% is expected and this cannot be public money.
• Communities will be supported through 3 stages of the CBS Start Up Fund and will be expected to produce a viable business plan detailing how operational costs will be covered 
• Noted that experience in pilots suggests that local businesses (e.g. farms, estates etc) may wish to be partners in community solutions which can help achieve a viable solution .
• The geographical scope of proposed community solutions does not need to match and may well cut across other boundaries such as Community Council boundaries etc depending on patterns of broadband provision.
• There is no set minimum size for a community solution –but it does need to be large enough to included sufficient subscribers to support a viable business plan in which ongoing operational costs are covered. 
• Good connectivity can bring many benefits and reduce the need to travel to work
Some concerns were also expressed, for example:
• that the communities most able to develop local solutions may the ones that are already included in the main programme for Broadband.
• Many processes already assume everybody has good broadband when they do not. This can result in serious disadvantage to individuals and businesses
• Lack of internet access can result in a democratic deficit.

 

3.  Comunity Experience

3.1 An Individual Solution – Bill Ray, a local resident noted he could only work as a journalist from this area for a London based company with sufficient broadband speed. Bill outlined how he had overcome this lack of broadband, first using satellite and now using an improved and cheaper solution based on a radio connection to a friend’s broadband.
       Both solutions require some equipment and the radio link also requires a cost sharing agreement with a friend and a licence. But the costs are relatively low and have enabled him to work from home.  Bill noted that the radio solution where possible (eg where not blocked by trees) in particular is also very robust and unaffected by rain or snow.

3.2 Community Response – John Edmondson of Ardross Community Council provided information about the community survey undertaken by the Community Council. John noted that whilst they abut Alness where there are quite good broadband speeds many in Ardross have less than 1Mb and some only dial up. 

The Community Council carried out the survey (done before CBS templates were available)to assess community needs in order to learn more about the patterns of usage, what people wanted etc so that the correct solution to meet local needs could be supplied. They also asked people to carry out a speed test – this was very important, albeit they recognised that speed will be affected but the equipment in place, time foo day etc. John highlighted a number of issues that came up in the survey which other communities planning a survey might wish to consider, These included:
• People may be scared off by having to do the speed test – its important to simplify this as much as possible
• It is important to find out how long a notice period people have with their current provider as this can affect required lead in time for a community solution.
• One question asked about the number of devices that could connect to the internet in each household. Whilst info on the number and types of devices used would have been useful, careful wording is required – in this case people tended to simply tick a box so less information was gathered than had been hoped.

John also noted the following:
• over 50% of responders said they would use broadband for both business and personal purposes.
• The degradation of superfast broadband over distance creates a hinterland
• Street cabinets will not provide a solution in dispersed communities as there are not enough of them.
• Would there be demand for a local Intranet ?
• There are other solutions that could be possible if there was legislation re access, wayleaves  e.g. if there was an ability to use substation or  hydro and windfarm fibre. People can lobby to try and open up these potential solutions.

 

4. Workshops and feedback 

Those present broke into work shops. Each group was asked to consider their current access to broadband, how people use their current service, what else they might do if they had an improved service and whither or not they would be able to help their community get improved broadband.

Feedback from the workshops highlighted the following:
• current broadband standards are variable
• People used broadband for a wide range of reasons, for home and for business including local and central government websites, banking, email and for hobbies.
• Lack of broadband means you can’t access services in the same way - for example can’t use it to look for library books
• Electricity and water are seen as essential basic services – why not broadband?
• Some communities will have access to funds for wind farms which may make it easier to support solutions, others will not.

 

5. What Next?

Jessica ran through the template survey offered by CBS as part of the community engagement stage of the CBS Start Up Fund. She also emphasised the importance of speed testing to ascertain eligibility for CBS support (e.g. majority of premises receiving less than 2Mbps). It was noted that door to door work may help get a better response rate. A community wishing to investigate and progress a community solution could:
 Register an enquiry on the CBS website or contact the CBS helpline (0800 9173688)
 Consider doing a community survey
 Collate data (Spreadsheet, mapping speeds)
 Discuss with CBS

CBS can offer a toolkit, technical support and can also help with funding.

People can check on the BT web page to see if their community is included in the main contract and can register an interest.

 

6. AOB and Close of meeting 

 there were no additional questions and the meeting closed.