NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 4 February 2010 MURDO RAISES TAYSIDE BROADBAND CONCERNS IN PARLIAMENT Broadband availability to households and businesses in Angus and Perthshire was highlighted in the Scottish Parliament this week by MSP Murdo Fraser during a debate on Improved Availability of Broadband. The debate follows on from Murdo Fraser’s Member’s Debate on his motion 'Rural Broadband for Scotland'. Last year, pressure from the Scottish Conservatives paid off after the Scottish Government announced upgrades for 71 telephone exchanges in rural areas across Scotland, including upgrades to Strathardle, Amulree, Bridge of Balgie, Bridge of Gaur, Butterstone, Trochry, Tummelbridge, Fern and Menmuir in Tayside. Last night, Murdo outlined to SNP Ministers problems faced by broadband users in Tayside and called for more investment to ensure that rural areas such as the Angus Glens and Highland Perthshire are not left behind while our cities receive faster and better broadband. In the Chamber, Murdo Fraser said: “I have spoken to many constituents in Angus and Perthshire since my members' business debate took place in December. Although many of them welcomed the announcement about upgrading the exchanges, many have pointed out to me that that is only part of the solution. There are still widespread problems with broadband availability in rural and remote parts of Scotland. And we are still waiting on a date for the upgrading of the Fern and Menmuir exchanges in Angus. “It is frustrating for people in rural areas to see the continual improvement of broadband connectivity in our cities while they cannot get broadband access at all. It is that lack of service in rural areas that is most frustrating when we see the cities powering ahead with superfast broadband. “The Conservative party at Westminster has pledged that, if elected, by 2017 we will make the United Kingdom the first major European country to have internet speeds of up to 100Mbps per second. We intend to allow private investors from companies such as Carphone Warehouse and Sky to be given permission to use BT cables to provide the service. “That will allow the market a greater opportunity to deliver. However, crucially, we have also said that if the market does not deliver, a Conservative Government will extend the 3.5 per cent levy on the BBC licence fee that is currently being used for digital switchover to pay for broadband expansion. That will mean that media organisations will drive forward greater broadband speeds, and it will allow cabling in rural areas to be extended, which will be paid for by private investors with the licence fee making up the shortfall. “Rural communities in particular would welcome those improvements. Investment in broadband in rural communities is essential, and we need to end the two-tier approach. I look forward to hearing the Scottish Government's attitude in response to those initiatives.” ENDS   back to top of page