Monday, May 28, 2012

Broadband - £500 million funding for procurement of broadband in Scotland through BDUK framework

The Drum claims that:
The Scottish Government will invest around £500m in broadband for communities and businesses by 2015, cabinet secretary for infrastructure and capital investment Alex Neil pledged today
This appears to a somewhat Brownian description of the financing.

Reading the publication of the Scottish Government the money appears to come from the European Regional Development Fund, from HM Treasury via Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and HMG funding for local authorities, topped up under the antique Barnett Formula.

The Herald notes:

According to the document Step Change 2015 the work will be appointed under the UK-wide Broadband Delivery Framework, rather than a Scotland-only "competitive dialogue" after a review "concluded that [this] would be a faster means of achieving our ambitions".
The investment will be in "white" areas, where there would be no plans to provide such services, something the Salmond Administration will now put to a consultation, seeking details of investment plans by the operators. It will also work with local authorities on their priorities.

It is also publishing details of progress in delivering Step Change 2015.

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