Overcoming the ostrich approach to broadband

Broadband is a critical delivery channel for effective eDemocracy. It's more than speed, it's about always on, ubiquitous access to the internet - when you want it, where you want it. Ofcom's latest statistics on broadband adoption show that rural areas are not only catching up with but inching ahead of the cities for the first time.

There are, however, only a few points to be pleased about in this data. Unlike Katie Allen in the Guardian, who claims that ‘fears of [a] digital divide are groundless', I would argue that this data demonstrates only too starkly that there is a significant digital deficit in this country and that, despite a lot of good intention and some excellent projects, it is not really improving. Broadband penetration in the countryside might be increasing but only insofar as it's reached the now-stalled levels in the cities. This isn't a great leap forwards, it's catch-up.

Using the Ofcom numbers (which I personally think are a little conservative), we're excluding over 40% of the population from digital participation. I'm ignoring the numbers on digital television as this only becomes a viable channel when it is fully interactive and most isn't. Go to Liverpool and the numbers swing around the other way, 60% of the population lacks broadband and it is even worse in Glasgow.

So what do Glasgow and Liverpool have in common? They're poor. Sunderland is lauded as bucking the trend, which is great. But is this an indicator of things to come or an exception to the rule? Most likely the latter where the efforts of some determined people in the community have led to a surge in broadband connectivity and usage.

Sunderland is no more than an isolated example but it does demonstrate that a grounded approach to broadband adoption works. To move beyond the current head-in-the-sand impasse, such strategies need to be implemented on a scale that targets many communities but in a way that each community is tackled at the grass roots. A national strategy with localised solutions is important because we become motivated to do something by those around us who we know and trust, not by slogans and campaigns.

Andy Williamson
Director, eDemocracy Programme
a[.]williamson[@]hansard[.]lse[.]ac[.]uk