KCC says broadband survey 'impractical'

Kildare County Council has told Kilcullen-based councillor Ivan Keatley that it 'would not be practical' to do a dedicated survey of broadband 'black spots' in the county, and that anyhow there is information of areas of poor service from a previous national survey, writes Brian Byrne.

This was in response to Cllr Keatley's request for such a survey, which came up for discussion at a recent Athy Area meeting.

Bernard Higgins, Head of Information Systems and Procurement at KCC, said a survey some years ago for the development of the National Broadband Scheme had shown black spots at Electoral District level in Ballitore, Ballyshannon, Carrigeen, Cloncurry, Feighcullen, Fontstown, Kilrush, Moone, Narraghmore, Skerries and Usk.

The analysis had not gone further than ED level, and subsequently mobile phone provider '3' (Three.ie) had been awarded the contract to provide services in these areas, and 'the process of servicing customers in these EDs is ongoing'.

Mr Higgins also noted that individuals and businesses who had registered last year under the Rural Broadband Scheme had been given lists of providers who could service customers in smaller areas of poor or unavailable broadband service.

Previously, Cllr Keatley had said the lack of provision of broadband was 'like having no electricity before the Rural Electrificatiion Scheme' in the 1940s, and said internet access was just as important now as the need for electricity had been then.