Published: Friday, 19th February, 2010 9:27am

Survey highlights Broadband deficiencies

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Over 1000 people have responded to a broadband survey issued by Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP David Mundell. And the resounding message is: we need better broadband.

The issue of problems with broadband speed and connections was again highlighted across Mr Mundell's constituency - which includes Sanquhar, Kirkconnel and Kelloholm, during his summer surgery tour and he decided to get a more in-depth picture of the quality of broadband service in this area by issuing a detailed questionnaire.

Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley MSP Cathy Jamieson has also been a long-standing champion for greater Broadband accessibility in her constituency.

Mr Mundell said: "The response has been overwhelming. What has surprised me from the survey is just how many people rely on broadband for work now and the fact that many of the websites people want access for shopping or other leisure pursuits now need a quality connection in order for them to be operated. People are rightly complaining that they are paying for broadband when in truth the speed is so slow they are not actually getting it. I would regard minimum service for broadband as one being able to use a service like BBC iplayer and I believe a universal service obligation is needed so that people are at least getting a minimum standard of connection speed.''

"What is also clear is that people in this area don't want to pay new £6 + VAT tax on their phone bill - proposed by this Labour government - which has no guarantee that it will lead to improved service in rural areas like this one. That ' s why I support the Conservatives' alternative plans to use any underspend from the digital switchover fund to deliver a universal broadband network of 2 Mbps by 2012. Then we would open up the BT monopoly and increase competition to deliver superfast broadband at speeds of up to 100 Mbps to all parts of the country . "

Mr Mundell also renewed his calls for BT and other internet services providers to take the needs of people in rural areas more seriously , saying : " I also took hundreds of individual problems to BT . It is clear to me we need to have a better system for collaboration between BT and ISPs (Internet Service Providers) because many people who responded to my survey found themselves pushed between pillar and post as to whether it is BT's problem or a problem with the ISP."

Mr Mundell concluded: "There is no doubt that ensuring there are adequate broadband services for everyone is as important in the 21st Century as road, rail, electricity and water connections were in the last century. I am determined to make sure this area is not left behind and great broadband is entirely an urban phenomenon.''