REGISTER with us by sending ina few simple details and help us convince BT to get 'vital' ADSL broadband services moving Forest wide.
There is also news from an unofficial source that BT is preparing to act soon to install broadband facilities in four Forest towns – Lydney, Coleford, Cinderford and Newent – but a push at this stage is vital to keep up the momentum. In other words, to let up pressure now could be fatal.
Toni Fagan of Lydney Area in Partnership has volunteered to see that each and every household and business in all parts of the Forest that fills in one of our forms is properly registered and counted.
"It is doing BT's work for them but the need is so pressing we need everyone's interest registered now," said Toni.
It was also vital to get BT to recognise that though numbers of broadband users in smaller communities would not be high the actual volume of traffic for internet-based industries and home workers could be enormous.
The CLA (Country Land and Business Association) is pushing this very point in a new campaign aimed at breaking BT's apparent short-sightedness in this respect. Forest MP Diana Organ and business pressure groups are making similar demands.
Toni is also urging all householders to consider the benefits of broadband – ease and speed of access for a comparatively small outlay – against their current internet services.
"Householders are a vital part of the equation when it comes to letting BT know we are serious," she said.
"Here in Lydney we are canvassing all local firms personally to get them registered but I will make sure that firms and individuals Forest-wide who send in information will be properly registered and accounted for.
"There are routes to registration through BT's broadband web site and through ISPs although it is not always easy – here's a quick and convenient way to make sure everyone's voice counts."
Simply write to us with your name, address, telephone number and email address (in confidence) and add the statement 'I want to register for broadband access inthe Forest of Dean NOW'. The address is The Review (broadband), Tindle Suite, King's Buildings, Hill Street, Lydney, GL15 5HE – email [email protected]">[email protected]
•A resource with web links to case histories and successful efforts of other areas to register for broadband has been set up on http://www.fasterforest">www.fasterforest. info by district councillor Stephen McMillan, a board member of Lydney Area in Partnership.