TO celebrate Chepstow reaching its 'trigger' level for broadband interest, telephone company BT has provided a year's free service to its first customer, the Severn Area Rescue Association.
With broadband access, Ed Sawkins and his fellow 30 volunteers at the Beachley Lifeboat Station will be able to work more effectively using the web.
The high-speed internet connection will be used to install a messaging service, where volunteers on call will be alerted to emergencies via a paging system. This had not been possible with dial-up access, as instant message delivery could not be guaranteed.
Broadband will also allow the support team to deal effectively with suppliers, as an 'always on' connection means more information will be sent easily over the internet.
Ed Sawkins said: "As the lifeguard crews and support team consist of volunteers with regular day jobs, it's imperative that we're all ready to respond to emergencies that could happen at any time. Using broadband internet, we'll be able to quickly page whoever's on call safe in the knowledge they'll be promptly alerted. Although we could have initiated this using a dial-up connection, slower internet speeds would have meant delays in delivery that could have ultimately endangered lives."
Under the 'trigger scheme' programme, customers on exchanges without ADSL availability can register their interest in getting broadband. Once the 'trigger' level is reached, BT will start the exchange enabling process.
The Review has been conducting a campaign to encourage Forest and Wye Valley communities to complete registration so that their own exchanges can take advantage of the vital service (listing your address and internet address and sending it to us will ensure your interest is registered).
From today, people served by the Chepstow exchange will have access to the full "Broadband from BT" product portfolio.
Huw Edwards, MP for Chepstow, said: "People in Chepstow have campaigned hard for broadband and can now reap the rewards.
"At present, Monmouth is just short of meeting its threshold to be broadband-enabled, and I urge everyone in the community that would benefit from broadband to register as soon as possible."