Following his recent contact with Openreach, David Buoy has had the following response re. superfast broadband in Blackshaw, Caerlaverock:
The Scottish Government do have plans for 100% coverage, so at some point Blackshaw is likely to be covered, but the current schedule runs up until 2021, so it may not be in the foreseeable future.
Blackshaw residents should approach DSSB [Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband] and get themselves on their radar so that when the next phase of projects comes up, DSSB is aware of the demand for fibre in Blackshaw. Alternatively, they could look at a Community Funded Partnership (CFP). This is where the community come together to fund a fibre solution themselves.
It’s a joint venture, Openreach also make a contribution. If they wished to go ahead the community will be assigned a project manager from Openreach who will work with them to create a bespoke fibre service in the area. The remaining cost would be shared among anyone in the community who wished to take part.
At present without a confirmed plan for Blackshaw, CFP would be the only and quickest way to get a fibre service ahead of the DSSB schedule. There’s more information on the CFP website here: www.communityfibre.openreach.co.uk/
David reports that the remainder of areas at Bankend and Kelton should be available to be connected to the service summer/winter 2018.
He suggests that there ‘really needs to be a meeting to get this sorted for all otherwise they will be left behind. The Scottish Government has funded the service for all of Scotland to get a Fibre broadband service. They need to act otherwise it won’t happen.’