Community Fibre Partnerships

**TJB** · 27th August 2016

Right, the village I live in only has fibre on one side of it. There are no plans to extend it to any other parts of the village but whilst checking this I found that I can try and claim a Community Fibre Partnership grant. Only problem is BT want names, addresses and phone numbers of people who are interested before they can start procedure to claim the grant. I don't really fancy going door to door so do is there a way of checking for this sort of info on the internet? Or does anyone have any idea how many I would actually need to get the ball rolling?

Cheers

**Mule** · 27th August 2016

Could you bring it up in a town meeting and get someone else to do it?

**flipper321** · 27th August 2016

Similar issues in our village were organised by individuals but raised via the village Facebook page, the village website and at Parish council meetings.

**TJB** · 27th August 2016

Originally Posted by flipper321

Similar issues in our village were organised by individuals but raised via the village Facebook page, the village website and at Parish council meetings.

I'm not on Facebook but I'll give the rest a bash. How did you get on? Did you get fibre?

**CzarJunkie** · 27th August 2016

If the village don't have a FB page, go retro and post a flyer through everyone's letterbox canvassing interest. Another way to go, and my preferred method, hire a 1978 Austin Allegro Vanden Plas with a 1000w PA System strapped to the roof and drive slowly through the village playing Death metal interspersed with your message. Carry on day and night until you have enough signatures.

**flipper321** · 27th August 2016

Originally Posted by TJB

I'm not on Facebook but I'll give the rest a bash. How did you get on? Did you get fibre?

We reviewed the costs of paying BT to install FTTC but convincing every property in the village to contribute was going to prove too difficult and the keenest of villagers were unwilling to subsidise those unwilling to pay in. We're a decent size village and the costs weren't excessive in my mind (around �50k).

We are fortunate enough that a private company offered to install fibre to the home if enough of the village was willing to commit to a 2 year contract at reasonable monthly fees. Whilst it means we are now tied into a sort of monopoly (although we still have the option to pay BT for FTTC of course) we are now getting the best internet available.

Installation starts later this year.

Might be worth seeing if any companies of this type operate in your area and get an idea of alternative options.

www.countybroadband.co.uk