5 June 2015

Council prepares bid to boost our broadband

Waikato District Council is preparing its bid for additional Government funding to expand ultrafast broadband in its communities.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment recently announced its intention to extend its two flagship broadband initiatives with additional funding, and establish a new initiative to expand mobile coverage.

Economic Development Manager, Clive Morgan says a list of towns, and the order of rollout, will be determined following a competitive bid process.

“The bid process takes into the cost of logistics including new infrastructure, actual customer demand, as well as the level of assistance from local authorities and their communities.”

He says to ensure Council presents a comprehensive case for its communities to be included on the list they need a better understanding of how communities access, and use, the internet.

“We’re working on a bid to ensure a portion of the new funding comes to communities in Waikato district, but we need help from residents. We need to get some information from you, and your communities, about your broadband use and access.

“To do this we’ve developed a brief, five question survey which we’d like people to share with as many networks as they can in the community - your school group, church network, sport clubs, dance group, business network, community hub, playgroup - anyone you think can provide feedback.”

The survey will be open until Friday 19 June and is available on the website http://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/
or through the Survey Monkey link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/betterbroadbandforwaikatodistrict

ends

© Scoop Media