The Countryside Alliance welcomes this opportunity to respond to the Department for Culture Media & Sport (DCMS) consultation on a proposal for a broadband universal service obligation (USO). The Countryside Alliance believes that high speed broadband is an essential service alongside water, electricity and gas, but is nowhere near as available in rural areas as it is in urban areas. We welcome that DCMS acknowledges this issue in the consultation document. This view is also shared by Ofcom and highlighted in its Connected Nations Report published in December 2015.
Download the Countryside Alliance consultation response in full at: Broadband USO Consultation