Improving Internet Connectivity - Update
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THIS REPORT RELATES STIRLING COUNCIL TO ITEM 6 ON THE AGENDA FINANCE & ECONOMY COMMITTEE CORPORATE OPERATIONS 31 MARCH 2016 NOT EXEMPT IMPROVING INTERNET CONNECTIVITY - UPDATE 1 SUMMARY 1.1 Stirling Council are committed to improve internet access and speed of connectivity across Stirling, recognising its importance in supporting sustainable communities and delivering economic growth. 1.2 Council Officers are continuing to work with Digital Scotland to support the roll out of the national Step-Change Programme. This programme is due to be completed in 2017 and aims to deliver a minimum of 93.4% coverage across the Stirling area. Coverage of Super-Fast Broadband across the area has now been increased to 78.6% through this programme. 1.3 A Programme Manager has been appointed to lead the Broadband programme and the community representation on the Broadband Delivery Group has been increased to improve the focus on delivering improvements to rural communities. 1.4 The Council agreed an investment of £300,000 per annum for the next 5 years to address gaps in rural internet provision. The Broadband Delivery Group will undertake an audit anticipated coverage, consider interventions to address identified gaps in provision and report back to Committee with a recommended action plan. 1.5 This paper provides an update on progress in improving connectivity and actions required to address identified gaps in provision. 2 OFFICER RECOMMENDATION(S) The Finance and Economy Committee agrees: 2.1 to note current progress on delivery of the Digital Scotland National Step Change Programme; 2.2 to note the appointment of a programme manager for Broadband, and the increased community representation on the Broadband Delivery Group; and 2.3 that the Broadband Delivery Group completes the audit of the current and anticipated rural coverage, and reports back to Committee in June 2016 with recommendations for investment strategy to address identified gaps in service provision. 3 CONSIDERATIONS Digital Scotland – Step Change Programme 3.1 Prior to the launch of Digital Scotland’s Step Change Programme, it was estimated that the coverage of Superfast Broadband in Stirling would grow to 59%, through commercial expansion of the network. The intervention of the programme will increase this to 93.4% by 2017. Stirling Council contributed £0.6M in 2014 to support this programme and officers will continue to work with Digital Scotland on the implementation of the improvements. 3.2 The national programme is delivering the desired benefits for Stirling, with coverage having reached 78.6% and many communities now receiving increased internet speeds. However, there are still a large number of premises to be enabled and significant challenges to be overcome in some of our rural communities. 3.3 As the programme is progressing, the communities which fall within the 5.6% of the Council area which are not anticipated to fully benefit from the national programme are becoming clearer. These communities include, Balquhidder, Trossachs, Blairlogie, Kippen, Kinlochard, Balmaha, Gartmore and Kilmahog/Callander. 3.4 Whilst some of the communities listed may partially benefit from the national programme, interventions will be required to find local and community based solution for the remaining areas within these locations. 3.5 Community Broadband Scotland are currently working with some of these communities to identify solutions and consider appropriate delivery arrangements. Broadband Delivery Group 3.6 The Broadband Delivery Group (formally the Broadband Advisory Group) will continue to work with Digital Scotland, Community Broadband Scotland and commercial network providers to find solutions to provide connectivity beyond the national programme. 3.7 The group includes Elected Members, local MP and MSP, and a number of community volunteers who bring local and industry knowledge and expertise. The time and effort which the volunteers are committing to the group is greatly appreciated by the Council, and is vital to the success of the work of the group. 3.8 A dedicated programme manager is now in place, who will co-ordinate and lead the development of rural broadband working with the Broadband Delivery Group. 3.9 As the programme is delivered, the specific areas that are unfortunately not going to benefit from the programme, is becoming clearer and there is a need to increase the focus of the group to identify solutions for these areas. 3.10 Council recently agreed to expand the community representation within the group to increase the engagement with those communities which will not benefit from the national programme. These communities have been asked to join the group, and it is hoped that they will be involved from April. 3.11 The work of the group over the next 3 months will focus on the audit of the rural area to ensure the Council, the communities and the broadband partners have a clear understanding of the coverage gaps in provision. There is currently gaps in information about connectivity and speeds in our most rural areas, and the completion of the audit will be critical to identify the scale and format of required solutions. 3.12 Fife Council have recently undertaken a similar study and the group are liaising with Fife to ensure sharing of best practice and learning around community solutions. 3.13 The group are also working with Community Broadband Scotland and commercial network providers to identify possible solutions for the communities. 3.14 Mobile phone coverage within some parts of our rural area is also limited, and demands for connections to 3G and 4G services are increasing from communities, business and tourism. Due to the geographical challenges on mobile broadband solutions, rather than fibre networks to improve connectivity and speed will be inevitable. This may provide a parallel opportunity to improve mobile phone coverage within the area as part of any infrastructure programme. 3.15 The Broadband Delivery Group will work with Ofcom and mobile telecom providers to ensure any opportunity to improve both phone and broadband coverage is explored. 3.16 Key Actions for the Broadband Delivery Group over the next 3 months: - Audit of Provision within the Rural Area. - Work with Community Broadband Scotland and commercial providers to identify possible solutions and consider business cases. - Recommend a revised Rural Broadband Strategy to address gaps in provision. - Increase communication and engagement with rural communities. - Work with Ofcom and mobile network providers to identify opportunities for improvement to mobile phone coverage within the rural area. 3.17 Officers will report back to Committee in June on progress with these actions. Funding 3.18 Council recently agreed to allocated £300,000 funding per year, for the next 5 years, to assist in the funding of technical solutions working with delivery partners to identify appropriate opportunities and cases for the investment. 3.19 The Council will not be a direct provider of broadband services, however it can help facilitate and improve the provision of services in the area. Investment in projects will be on a case by case basis, and subject to a robust business case and cost-benefit-analysis. Where there is a commercial interest in the services, the council will seek to invest this funding on a claw- back basis where possible. 3.20 A report will be brought to Finance and Economy Committee in June, detailing the output of the rural audit, and will recommend a delivery programme for investment in solutions during 2016/17 and beyond. 3.21 The Broadband Delivery Group will also investigate other funding streams beyond the Councils current financial commitment. 4 POLICY/RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS AND CONSULTATIONS Policy Implications Equality Impact Assessment No Strategic Environmental Assessment No Serving Stirling Yes Single Outcome Agreement Yes Diversity (age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation) No Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) Yes Effect on Council’s green house gas emissions No Effect Strategic/Service Plan Yes Existing Policy or Strategy Yes Risk No Resource Implications Financial No People No Land and Property or IT Systems No Consultations Internal or External Consultations Yes Equality Impact Assessment 4.1 The contents of this report were assessed using the EqIA Relevance Assessment Form It was determined that an Equality Impact Assessment was not required as the actions proposed will improve the focus of delivery of the Council’s key priority to improve upon access to and speed of internet services across the Stirling area, particularly for those communities and citizens not currently anticipated to benefit from the Step Change Programme. Strategic Environmental Assessment 4.2 This report does not relate to a Plan, Policy, Programme or Strategy therefore Strategic Environmental Assessment does not apply. Serving Stirling 4.3 The proposals set out in this report are consistent with the following key priorities:- C- Regenerate our most in need communities to deliver a full range of positive social, environmental and economic outcomes O - Deliver and improve upon access to and speed of internet access across the Stirling area Single Outcome Agreement 4.4 The proposals set out in this report support the following outcomes in the Single Outcome Agreement: - Communities are well served, better connected and safe - Improved opportunities for learning, training and work Other Policy Implications 4.5 None Resource Implications 4.6 There are no resource