Update – Action needed by Feb 21 – Clent Ultrafast Broadband

CLENT COMMUNITY ULTRAFAST BROADBAND PROJECT

Dear Resident/ Business Owner

The aim of the project is to upgrade all homes and businesses in Clent to Ultrafast broad band which means download speeds up to 1000 Mbs.

Current Clent speeds are at best 80 Mbs (known as Superfast) or much much less. You might be happy with ‘Superfast’ speeds but allow me to persuade you to upgrade.

1. We need ultrafast broadband to support an ever-increasing number of internet devices and services in the These include mobile phones, tablets, iPads, e-readers, PCs, games consoles, Apple TV, Netflix, Amazon TV, media players and security cameras. All these devices and services compete for bandwidth and, with growing families, basic broadband is not enough.
2. Ultrafast broadband enables better home working. There are families whose children are unable to attend school due to the lockdown and are struggling to work at home due to poor broad band
3. Ultrafast broadband will protect house prices. A survey carried out by ispreview.co.uk found that 68.8% of respondents would be put off from buying a ‘beautiful new house’ if it lacked fast 73.9% considered broadband was critically important to their life.
4. Ultrafast broadband is now almost the same price as Superfast broadband. The difference in price is very small with the price differential ranging from £5-10 a month for most suppliers that offer both types of service.
5. Your current broadband relies on copper Broadband signals suffer a reduction in strength (attenuation) as it travels along the copper cable. This reduces speeds and makes the signal susceptible to interference. Ultrafast broadband uses fibre optic cables which are immune to interference and do not suffer from signal attenuation. Consequently, ultrafast broadband delivers higher speeds and is more reliable.

All homes and businesses in Clent with broadband download speeds of less than 100 Mbs qualify for the project. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Worcester County Council (WCC) are funding this using a voucher scheme. Home vouchers are up to £3000 and business vouchers up to £7000.
If sufficient homes and businesses in Clent take part in the project, they should all be upgraded at no cost to the home or business owner.

Businesses include any SME or organisation (eg: charity or voluntary organization) and any sole trader registered at their home address. It does not include those working from home employed by large companies/organisations. The business does not need to be paying a business rate.

What are you committing to?

You will need to respond to an email sent to you by DCMS confirming your interest. This allows Openreach to receive voucher funding when the infrastructure is built. No funding comes directly to you.

Once the upgrade is complete (that is you have a physical fibre connection – Fibre To The Property – FTTP) you must take out a minimum 12-month FTTP subscription with your chosen telephone/broadband supplier. There are many to choose from, see FTTP providers (openreach.com). After this 12-month contract there are no other commitments . You can stay with your current supplier provided it is on the list. If you are with a supplier not on the list, you will have to honour the contract although it may allow you to terminate early. Some suppliers not on the list may well be by the time you need to upgrade to an FTTP contract. You self-certify that you have taken up an FTTP contract although DCMS may check if you have.

Your contract must have a download speed of at least 30 Mbs or double your current download speed. For example my current download speed in Woodman Lane is 40 Mbs so I must take out at least 80Mbs. You can do a speed test – Run a speed test – Ofcom Checker.

Your current copper line will not be removed during the build. This line is needed for continuity, your telephone and to allow you to revert to a non-FTTP contract should you wish to, which is unlikely given the benefits of fibre. In summary, your current service will not be disrupted during the ‘build’.

Openreach engineers will install the fibre cables along the existing telephone cables running to your house. A small box will be installed in your house similar in size to a telephone socket.

Your FTTP supplier will provide you with a new FTTP router. That is the only equipment change.

If you choose to take part when will you be upgraded? I need to have collated all the data and have sent it to WCC on 19 Feb 21. This deadline has been set by DCMS. Openreach should start the build in March and it should take 12 months. All being well Clent could be using ultrafast broadband before April 2022. If this project does not take place this upgrade may have to wait until at least 2030.

If you wish to participate in the project, I need the following information  from you: full name, contact name, address (including post code), email address, telephone number (not mobile phone) and Company Number or Sole Trader. Please send this information to me at this email address: ultrafastclent@aol.com .
You must respond by 18 Feb 21 to be included in the project.

I want to assure you that all information will be treated in confidence and that this is not a scam. I am leading this project on behalf of Clent Parish Council. I am a member of Clent Parish Council (see Clent Parish Councillors – Clent Parish Council) and of Bromsgrove District Council (BDC) (see Councillor details – Councillor A. J. B. Beaumont (bromsgrove.gov.uk)

The mobile number on the BDC website is the same as the one given in this flyer. Included below is a photograph of my BDC identity card. The photograph is the same one on the BDC website.

This is called a Community Project because for it to succeed it needs as many homes and businesses in Clent to participate in order to attract Government funds. If the number is too low the project will fail. So please give this some thought and join the project.

Finally, please do not let this opportunity pass you by.
If you need more information, please feel free to call me at any time.

Councillor Andrew (Drew) Beaumont

Tel: 01562 887750. Mobile: 07899707238. Email: ultrafastclent@aol.com