Tayside and Fife could win a share of a £68.8 million windfall to improve broadband connections in rural Scotland.
The money, which was announced by UK Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, is part of the Government’s drive to ensure that 90% of homes and businesses have access to superfast broadband by 2015.
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith has already declared she will lobby the Scottish Government to have Perthshire made a “priority” for the cash.
However, the UK Government funding was dismissed as “disappointing” by Scotland’s Infrastructure Secretary Alex Neil.
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore insisted the announcement represented “major investment” in rural broadband for Scotland.
“It means nearly £70 million of UK Government investment will go into improving the connectivity of rural areas,” he said. “The Scottish Government should match the funding and help provide our rural communities with the broadband services they need so badly.
“Rural Scotland has previously been left behind in the race to improve internet access and speeds but this money will help make it viable for the private sector to invest in these areas.
“In challenging economic times, it makes sense to put Government funding into initiatives like this which will help spur on the economy and job creation in rural areas.”
Large parts of Highland and eastern Perthshire, Angus and Fife still cannot access broadband or only have unreliable connections.
Liz Smith, the Conservative MSP who has been campaigning for a better service in rural areas, described the cash boost as “very welcome news.”
“Access to broadband in rural areas is essential in order to grow the rural economy,” she said. “I am determined to make sure that Perthshire is not left behind and that we see the investment needed to make sure that all communities in Perthshire can have access to fast broadband connectivity.”
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“I have today written to Alex Neil MSP, cabinet secretary, for infrastructure and capital investment to lobby for Perthshire to be made a priority area for investment. The SNP Scottish Government must now step up to the mark and invest this money in rural broadband.”
The funding is part of the UK Government’s £530 million broadband investment fund, designed to ensure the UK has the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015.
Mr Neil said: “I am disappointed with the allocation from the UK Government towards the Scottish Government’s ambition for roll-out of next generation broadband across the whole of Scotland. While today’s funding will contribute in some measure to fulfilment of our broadband ambition, we will play our own part through direct investment of Scottish Government funding, as well as exploring alternative financing models.
“However, this announcement from the UK Government has fallen short of the expectations of the Scottish economy to the overall costs of broadband rollout in the remote and rural parts of Scotland. For instance, the cost to deliver next-generation broadband across the Highlands and Islands alone has been estimated at up to £300 million, therefore we do not regard the UK Government’s allocation as a realistic contribution to meet Scotland’s broadband requirements.”
Labour MSP David Stewart called on the Scottish Government to match the funding.
“The UK Government has come up with their share but any projects need to be match-funded by the Scottish Government,” he said. “If we are to ensure those living in the more remote parts of Scotland can get in on the new technology by getting access to superfast broadband this investment must start now.”
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser said: “It is excellent news for the whole of rural Scotland that the Conservative-led UK Government is pumping this funding into rural broadband connectivity improvements.
“For too long rural areas in Fife and Perthshire have been short changed by the lack of broadband connectivity and the lack of fast and reliable broadband is holding back businesses and the Scottish economy.”