Topics in this edition:

• Champions urgently needed in key areas
• We need your surveys
• Competition update – you can submit by email
• Get online week 15-21 October
• New copy to use in your newsletters and on websites
• Top questions this month
• Don’t forget to complete the surveys on our website: www.cswbroadband.org.uk

Champions urgently needed in key areas

We now have over 150 Local Broadband Champions who are busy spreading to word within their communities about the project and encouraging people to complete our survey, enter the competition etc. However, there are some notable gaps in the network.

Would you be able to volunteer as a champion, or using your local knowledge and contacts would you be able to help us to recruit champion?

Shown below is a list of parishes where we have identified a need for Champions. This list is not exhaustive — we’ve tried to keep it to a manageable size and there are other areas where Champions are also needed.

LIST OF PARISHES REQUIRING CHAMPIONS

For information about becoming a Champion or to sign up please see http://www.cswbroadband.org.uk/downloads-resources/for-community-champions/

We also have a map on our website showing where current Champions are located and where survey responses have been received from http://www.cswbroadband.org.uk/downloads-resources/maps-showing-champions-locations-and-survey-responses/

We need your surveys

The project will shortly be entering the pre-procurement phase and we need to have a big push on getting information about the real state of broadband provision across our area. As you will be aware, telecoms providers will tell you that could can get broadband speeds of up to a certain speed, but we have examples where up to 10Mbps actually means less than 1Mbps. The only way we will be able to show where an uplift is needed is to have evidence of real speeds and what broadband is being used for or may be used for in the future.

Key message

Don’t forget to complete the surveys on our website: www.cswbroadband.org.uk

Cabinet competition still open – win Amazon vouchers and improve broadband in your area

• First Prize: £50 Amazon voucher
• Second Prize: £30 Amazon voucher
• Third Prize: £20 Amazon voucher
• Runners-up: 5 x £10 vouchers

There is still time to get your entries in to win Amazon vouchers in Warwickshire County Council’s cabinet competition. Residents are asked to locate the telecoms cabinets that sit by the side of the road and to submit the information so that it can be mapped as part of the project to bring superfast broadband to the rural parts of Warwickshire. The information is needed to help determine what is needed to improve broadband speeds in each area.

The response so far has been great; people have really taken this to heart and got involved. However, we still need information about some of our more rural areas. The cabinets are often green and may be located by the side of the road, on village greens etc. To make it even easier to submit responses we are asking people to email the details to broadband@warwickshire.gov.uk and all verified entries will be entered into the draw to win Amazon vouchers with a value of up to £50.

Entries should be accompanied by the senders’ contact details and should include the location of the cabinet giving as much detail as possible, with a photograph if one can be taken safely. The competition closes on 30^th September. For more details see http://www.cswbroadband.org.uk/

Why are we doing this?

As part of our project we need to understand what telecoms equipment is already out there, and we are particularly interested in the green cabinets that sit by the side of the road. Unfortunately the BT data on the positions of these cabinets is not accurate, and as speeds can be affected by relatively short distances of copper cabling, we need to accurately pinpoint the locations of these green cabinets.

If you want to see the cabinets that we have already had reported – and to see if you can spot your local one visit https://4sfb.crowdmap.com/main

Competition Rules

1. The competition is open to anybody
2. Multiple submissions may be made, but each one must be for a different cabinet location
3. Entries will be verified by the CSW Broadband project team using Google Street view or by other means to establish the exact coordinates of the cabinets
4. Winners will be drawn at random from the verified submissions
5. The decision of the CSW Broadband Project team is final
6. Winners will be notified by telephone or email and names of winners will be published in future newsletters and other publicity

Key message

By letting us know where the cabinets are you could help bring superfast broadband to your area and could win Amazon vouchers to the value of up to £50

Get online week 15–21 October

The Government is putting a lot of resource into getting people to start to use computers and the Internet. However it’s a real chicken and egg conundrum – do you need the skills or do you need the broadband in order to go online? The answer, clearly, is both. So could you help people to improve their computer skills?

Get Online week aims to encourage people with no or limited digital skills to come along to an event in their local community and be supported to get more out of life online.

3,000 get online week events will take place throughout the UK that week. Anyone can register to host a Get Online week event to support local people to improve their digital skills.

If you sign up to host a Get Online week event you will

• Receive a free marketing pack to help you support your local event (while supplies list)
• Be included in the national Get online week database via the 0800 77 1234 freephone which will direct local people interested in taking part to your event
• Able to access an online toolkit, downloadable resources and handy hints and tips

Sign up on the UK online centre website. Packs will be sent out on a first come, first served basis.

http://www.ukonlinecentres.com/marketing/get-online-week-2012.html

Top questions this month:

Q1. Can you send me copy to go onto our village website or in our newsletter?

We have a selection of articles that follow a logical sequence, so even if you are just starting your broadband campaign there will be something there for you. We are adding articles as the project progresses, so you can keep your readers regularly updated. To download articles visit: http://www.cswbroadband.org.uk/downloads-resources/copy-to-use-on-your-own-website-newsletters-or-flyers/

Q2. Is the project to be rolled out on a village-by-village basis?

No, we are recruiting Champions to cover a particular geographic area, and Parishes make a natural boundary for Champions areas. However, when the network is designed the contractors will be looking for the most effective routes so will take into account a number of factors such as geography, topography and, of course how many villages along a proposed route have a high level of responses. That is why we are suggesting that Champions work together to form clusters. Apart from anything else it makes sense to ensure that you are not covering the same farms and other remote properties – and equally to make sure that nothing falls between the gaps.

Q3. I am in an urban area and have poor broadband – what can you do for me?

Although our funding is primarily targeted at rural areas, you should still register your demand by completing our surveys, and encourage your neighbours to do the same. If a commercial provider can see that there is a high demand from a particular area, and that it is relatively easy to reach (as is the case with most urban areas) then they will be more likely to prioritise that locality in their normal roll-out plans. In fact, we have already influenced the telecoms providers to provide an uplift in services in some areas – so it’s worth getting involved wherever you are! Remember – wherever you are you will need to show evidence of demand in order to get an improved service so it is vital to get as many surveys as possible completed

CSW Broadband now on social media – come and join the conversation

We are now on the major social media channels and are already creating a buzz. Join in for up-to-date information and an opportunity to influence how the project develops.

• Facebook Page –  https://www.facebook.com/CSWSuperfastBroadband
• Twitter – https://twitter.com#!/cswbroadband
• Linkedin –  http://www.linkedin.com/groups/CSW-Superfast-Broadband-4403473

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