The Countryside Alliance has circulated the below briefing note ahead of a backbench business debate on the broadband Universal Service Obligation to be held on Thursday 15 December.
The Countryside Alliance welcomes the Government's commitment to a Universal Service Obligation (USO) for broadband and the inclusion of this in the Digital Economy Bill. However we believe that more attention needs to be given to how the USO is going to be delivered. What resources has the Government made available for its delivery; what consideration have they given to areas that are hardest to connect; and what cap will be put on the Government's financial obligation to connect households and premises? Depending on how the Government addresses these issues, there may still be some people who do not benefit from the USO.