Hi,

I have read with interest the content on your website regarding Rural and Community Broadband.

At CommunityUK, we are providing COMPLETELY FREE Wireless Broadband services to communities in both rural and urban areas in the UK, along with a range of online ”Community Networking” tools to help the community connect and get the best from the internet.

Currently operating in Hampshire and Kent, we are already talking to other communities around the UK with a view to providing our service.

It seems that the combination of genuinely FREE broadband offered, together with our community engagement and support ethos and approach is being seen as far more attractive to communities than a standard, highly priced, commercial alternative.

And it works! – In our pilot project in Hampshire, we are successfully covering c6000 Homes (12,000 by October) and have achieved this at a fraction of the cost most large commercial WISPs charge. PLUS, our users can access a completely FREE Service. Having launched last June, and with minimal marketing, we now have c18% market share (i.e. more than Sky, Orange etc.) and are releasing c£30,000 per month cash back into the local community by way of Broadband fees no longer being paid to the majors. A big impact on the local community!!

In addition, the fact that we are already connected with the Government’s BDUK initiative and the DEFRA Rural Broadband team, we are able to provide a great deal of support and guidance when it comes to applying for government funding for such projects.

If your organisation or your members would like to know more about CommunityUK and what we are able to offer, please feel free to contact me directly.

The CommunityUK Concept Brochure is available to download from:- http://tinyurl.com/6srn3h4

Also, a recording of the BBC Click feature on our Pilot Project in Leigh Park, Hampshire can be viewed here:- http://www.youtube.com/thecommunityuk.

–
Regards,
Peter Reed-Forrester
Managing Director
CommunityUK.net Ltd – Community Networking for a Digital Britain

Tel: +44 (0)845 077 4014 : Fax: +44 (0)845 077 4015 : Mob: +44 (0)7828 075140 : Skype: peter.reed-forrester : Email: prf@communityUK.net : Web: http://www.communityuk.net

Have you registered your community project yet? You can do so in the Project Database, even if it is still only an idea, concept or plan rather than a fully fledged organisation. The more projects who register, the more likely it is that you will find others in your area with whom you can share resources, consider options available to you all, and as you move forwards, look at bulk buy schemes etc.

Now the RCBF (Rural Broadband Community Fund) has been announced, the RBP forums are here to help you put together an acceptable Expression of Interest.

Please post your questions here and the community will endeavour to help you find the answers.