Claw-back clause could help fund rural broadband

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Friday, 21 October 2016 08:43

A report published this week recommends replacing traditional copper with fibre optic cable to enable rural hi-speed connectivity

A claw-back clause that could help fund hi-speed rural broadband needs to be exploited.

That's from Armagh councillor Sam Nicholson.
It's because fibre broadband installed by BT, using public money, is turning a profit.
A report published this week surmised that fibre to the home would solve the rural broadband problem.
And Mr Nicholson says the small print in BT's contract with Westminster, means Northern Ireland could have tens of millions of pounds to make that happen.
Speaking to Q Radio he said, "Someone in the country has as much right as someone in the town to proper infrastructure... Potentially there's money to be clawed back for the whole of the UK and obviously we want to be in there fighting for our part of it."