On Thursday 3 December I was able to ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport about poor fibre broadband coverage in areas of Rochester and the Hoo Peninsula. This has been a prevalent issue across the constituency for some months so I was grateful to receive the opportunity to highlight the matter at the oral questions session for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Through numerous correspondence I have been aware for some time about the issue many residents have had with their BT coverage around central Rochester, the peninsula and Chatham Historic Dockyard to name just a few. In the hope of addressing the matter, I asked the Secretary of State what he can do to stop providers dragging their heals in the full roll-out of fibre broadband. I was informed that 97% of Rochester and Strood now has full access to this crucial service and that remaining local and national poor spots are one of his Department’s priorities. I am pleased to have this local issue on the Government’s agenda and I will continue pushing for faster local roll-out in the weeks ahead.
I understand that problems still remain and many constituents have approached me since to highlight their issues with certain providers in different areas. I also invite anyone within Rochester and Strood who continues to suffer problems with their broadband to contact me at [email protected]
You can read the full debate here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm151203/debtext/151203-0001.htm#15120362000026