16.08.11
Broadband funding for rural areas
Broadband funding has been provided for rural areas in England and Scotland. This forms part of the Government drive to deliver super-fast broadband to 90% of homes and businesses by 2015.
England will receive £294m to improve connections, with local authorites deciding how the money should be spent. They will be required to set up delivery plans and find additional funding from elsewhere if necessary.
Wales and Northern Ireland already received £167m between them, and Scotland has now been funded £68.8m to increase broadband speed in areas not served by the private sector.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "Fast broadband is absolutely vital to our economic growth, to delivering public services effectively, and to conducting our everyday lives.
"But some areas of the UK are missing out, with many rural and hard-to-reach communities suffering painfully slow internet connections or no coverage at all.
"We are not prepared to let some parts of our country get left behind in the digital age."
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