Superfast broadband deal to be decided today (From Hereford Times)

Superfast broadband deal to be decided today

1:14pm Thursday 13th September 2012 in News By Paul Broome

A MULTI-million pound contract that kickstarts the county’s superfast broadband coverage should be decided today (Thursday).

Cabinet members are expected to agree on a successful, and as-yet-unnamed, bidder that will provide a broadband network in those parts of the county that don’t – or won't – receive commercial investment.

To do this members meet in a secret session to debate “specific contractual points”.

This afternoon, cabinet members will be asked to give their approval to the council spending a further £4.1 million on Borders Broadband scheme – £6 million has already been pledged by the authority – to match funding from BDUK (Broadband Delivery UK).

Explaining the need for additional funding, cabinet member Councillor Graham Powell said: “During the contract negotiation it became apparent that we required additional BDUK financial support because of the rural sparsity of the county and because a high proportion of the current telecommunications infrastructure utilizes overhead cabling."