Fibre is coming to your part of Abthorpe. [If you live in the Lois Weedon / Weston / Plumpton area, there is still time! C
lick here.for information for your area]
We have all benefited from the remarkable Community Project we know as Tove Valley Broadband.
The organisation is constantly looking at ways to keep ahead technologically with the increasing demand for its services.
Most recently we have seen a huge increase in capacity with the faster links, anticipating the continued growth in demand.
It is now time to replace the wireless links with direct fibre connection to the premises, known as FTTP.
You may be aware that last year we made this change in part of the village.
This year we had a project in Wappenham which commenced almost 12 months ago and is now bearing fruit.
It is close to completion, being funded entirely from government grants, and will see every household, small business and remote farm connected for no cost.
Currently in progress is a project in Slapton.
Now we want to cover the rest of Abthorpe.
If you thought your current connection was quick then be prepared to be blown away by a fibre connection.
Just speak to anyone who is already connected by fibre.
I know several people who are keen to get fibre. In order to qualify for a government grant we must have a commitment from a majority of users that they will connect to the fibre.
Currently a residential property is entitled to a grant of up to £1,500 and a small business up to £3,500.
There are 70 TVB members in the village who are not connected to fibre. We need a commitment from a majority of premises to cover the cost of the complete project.
It is an important and significant objective to provide every property with the means to connect even if they choose not to avail themselves of the facility.
If you would like to join and get connected, please sign up at
www.tovevalley.uk/abthorpefibre
Those who qualify as a small business or sole trader will need to confirm their eligibility - see below.
Once we have contacted every potential member and we have a significant majority that wish to participate we will work out the required network of connections and the cost of equipment, cables and contracting.
We will submit our application for grants to the Department for Culture Media and Sport.
We must do this before the end of this year or we may miss the boat.
This is a community project which will require significant involvement of as many volunteers as we can muster.
Each household will be expected to arrange for equipment to be installed and cable to be laid to a nearby connecting point.
Because of the layout of the village, most cables will have to run along boundary walls or fences separating you from your neighbours.
We also need your agreement to allow these cables to be run.
If Wappenham can do it then so can we. Wappenham have 110-120 connections which cost around £150,000. Well within their grant entitlement.
Eligibility of small business / sole trader status requires you to prove, at the time we apply for grant, that you trade from the address registered.
IF you are a sole trader from your address you will need to provide your UTR number on official HMRC documentation.
IF you are a business you will need to supply your Company registration number, VAT number and/or Charity number.
If your registration is at another address (e.g. accountant) additional proof of trading from your address will be required (e.g. trade invoices).
One final thing : fibre broadband will highlight any issues you might have with your internal WiFi and network because the service will be better than any house systems can provide.
You may well have to consider updating your internal equipment to take advantage of the faster, more reliable internet connection.
There are articles in our library to guide you.
Keith Fenwick