A RURAL community broadband specialist has welcomed recently launched extra funding to help secure faster and more reliable internet connections for homes and businesses in rural areas of Cumbria.
Broadband for the Rural North has connected more than 7,000 properties mostly in the North West of England, to full-fibre gigabit broadband since being formed in 2011.
B4RN believes the extra funding support for broadband connections launched last month by the Borderlands Growth Deal will help more rural communities in Cumbria to gain access to better broadband.
Vouchers are currently available in Cumbria and Northumberland to subsidise the costs of bringing gigabit capable broadband to areas suffering with slow speeds. As part of the £394.5m Borderlands Growth Deal, up to £4 million of additional Government funding will ‘top up’ these vouchers so even more money is available to improve digital connectivity and boost the regional economy.
The Government’s Rural Gigabit Broadband Vouchers Scheme (RGBVS) currently provides up to £3,500 funding for eligible businesses and up to £1,500 for eligible residential properties to install gigabit-capable connections.
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