Bring Superfast Broadband to ALL communities in Lancashire

Do you live in a community in Lancashire that does not have Fibre (FTTC, or FTTP) Broadband services? Did you know some communities in Lancashire currently with Superfast Broadband are being offered upgrades to Ultrafast while other communities are still only on guaranteed speeds of 1-3mpbs?

Sign this petition to lobby Lancashire County Council (and their delivery partners) to STOP upgrading residents on FTTC, and prioritize areas currently on broadband speeds of <10mpbs.

Background
Lancashire Country Council had £40m to bring Superfast Broadband to residents across Lancashire. In 2015 the following was stated during a Internal Scrutiny Committee at Lancashire County Council.

"Superfast Broadband was deemed to be download speeds above 24 megabits per second (mbps). Members noted that it was planned that 97% of Lancashire's homes and businesses would have access to broadband speeds above 24mbps by March 2016, which would conclude "Phase One". Regarding "Phase Two", it was planned that 99%* of Lancashire homes and businesses would have access to broadband speeds above 24mbps by the end of 2017." Ref.1

It is 2020 and some communities in Lancashire are still on outdated copper services that only guarantee speeds of 1-3mpbs while communities who initially received FTTC are now being upgraded again to Ultrafast FTTP to increase speeds exceeding 24mbps.*

While some communities have seen heavy investment in broadband infrastructure, others have been left behind and failed by Lancashire County Council, British Telecom (BT), Broadband Delivery United Kingdom (BDUK), Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

From the information below it is fair to assume profit has been prioritized ahead of people.

"The methods of installation of Superfast Broadband were communicated to the Committee. It was explained that premises would receive services via Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) which was the cheapest method of mass delivery, and when this wasn't possible, via Fibre to the Premises (FTTP). With regard to FTTC, it was explained that issues with broadband speeds could arise when a premises was over 1.2km from the cabinet, and in these instances, often FTTP, although expensive, was the best solution to resolve such issues. Regarding "Phase Two", it was conveyed that other methods of providing Superfast Broadband would also be utilised and that more information would be disseminated to the Committee at a future meeting." Ref. 1

*For information on which areas this impacts please see the Ofcom Broadband Checker Map - https://checker.ofcom.org.uk/broadband-coverage

Ref 1 - http://council.lancashire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=15207