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Page Updated Saturday, 21 Aug 2010 . NB These web pages will not be regularly updated. News of progress and any queries will be sent out by email to those who have 'listed'.
Interesting apparent shift in emphasis by the new coalition on rural broadband provision seen on Channel 4 news 8/6 - an opportune time for us to put our hat in the ring!
FOR ANYONE ON THE 01798 81XXXX TELEPHONE CIRCUIT
I have made good progress in establishing contact with one of the 'Prime Movers' in West Sussex County Council and now have a clearer idea of the county's policy initiatives in this direction. Our MP, Nick Herbert and his office have also been extremely supportive and helpful. The biggest question I keep getting back is 'How much interest is there?' and 'How many businesses in the parish are affected?'
PLEASE ASK ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES WITH INTERNET ACCESS IN THE PARISH TO SEND IN THE ON-LINE FORM WITH NO DELAY IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN A BETTER SPEED. WITH SOMETHING LIKE 1900 OR MORE HOUSES IN THE PARISHES WE SHOULD BE DOING BETTER ON RESPONSES!
AS THE COUNTRY GRINDS SLOWLY TOWARDS THE 21ST CENTURY IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY COMMON FOR HOUSE BUYERS TO LOOK AT BROADBAND SPEEDS WHEN CONSIDERING LOCATION. I RECKON WE COULD LOOK AT 2020 BEFORE WE SEE ANY IMPROVEMENT IF OUR PLIGHT IS LEFT TO BT. MEANWHILE PROPERTY PRICES WILL BE HELD BACK IN THE PARISH, LOCAL ENTERPRISE WILL SUFFER AND WE ALL WILL BE UNABLE TO UTILISE THE INCREASING NUMBER OF FACILITIES FASTER BROADBAND OFFERS.
On-line response form
Where we are
Your broadband is delivered to you by your ISP on a contract, the common one of which is 'Up to 8mb", which means that is the maximum speed they will allow you to receive. It now seems as if the 'standard' contract is becoming 'up to 24mb' In fact, as you all know, you get a lot less than this, but are possibly still paying for 8mb - or even 24mb. Current speeds range from nil (= the old 'dial-up') at the top of the parish (off Harbolets) to around 2 and a bit mb in the village
We live in a village where I sense it is considered 'non-u' to make a fuss. In general it is better to mutter and moan about something rather than do something about it. To a large extent that is why things are as they are. Why we have a bit of a mobile-phone 'black hole' and why we have such poor broadband. Often, doing something positive, even if it means a tiny white lie is the best route. If all those with poor mobile phone performance in the village or slow broadband got in touch with their suppliers to complain - you never know what might happen. Tell them 'XXX' has offered a better signal coverage or a faster broadband speed and you will be changing contracts. Ignore all 'put-offs' like 'we are looking at the problem'/'it is up to BT' etc etc. Stick with the complaint - maintain the threat.
Point out that you are paying exactly the same as someone just along the road at Dyke Farm who will be getting almost 6mb for the same cost
It is exactly the same on mobile phone upgrades - say you are quitting - and see the new phone arrive 6 months earlier than the contract offers. Look at the way the planning pressure group mobilised the village and pushed the Parish Council into submitting a response, without which we would have been a 'silent' and therefore non-opposing village. It works.
The history of broadband in the village goes back to 2002 when we had none, and there was no sign on the horizon. Fortunately, Robin Bliss - who began this website - ran a campaign to acquire a list of those who would take the service if it were available, and I think we achieved the 'minimum number' of customers for BT (I cannot recall the figure), but it arrived in 2003. Without Robin's efforts we might still, like some villages in the UK, be without.
I have decided that spring-cleaning is needed here, so I have tidied up this page and put together some other pages which you will find here. I have started with the assumption that some of you will not know much about the technology, and those that are 'up-to-speed' (excuse the pun) can jump to later pages. I have had an amazing learning curve recently which is by no means complete, so if any of you know more about telecoms/broadband and wish to add or correct anything please use the contact form and I will establish telephone or email contact with you as you wish. I'm sure a lot of you will have questions - the easiest way to handle these is for you to read and then post your questions on the forum - you will get answers.
So - before we can move anywhere on this we need to establish the level of interest. Without sufficient interest the project will not proceed. To do this I would ask you to complete this broadband interest form for us - there are no obligations at this point - it is merely trying to gauge interest levels. 371 373 responses so far. NB. One form per broadband contract please!
Please note that we would love to see any Thakeham residents who are equally affected join this campaign
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