The Increasing Importance of Broadband for Rural Areas

The recession-hit UK is seeing an unprecedented demand for university and higher education courses at a time when funding is being cut in many institutions. The Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) recently published data showing that the number of applicants to UK universities had increased by 57,000 in the UK - owing to a number of individuals eager to make themselves more employable.

The UCAS data arrived soon after a report by the Commission for Rural Communities which called for a number of measures to be put in place in order to ensure that rural areas in the UK do not become excluded from digital development.

The Commission focused on four main priorities when conducting its report, they were: education and lifelong learning, business development, social and community cohesion, and equitable access to services. Of course, the importance of having high speed internet in every area of the country is a slot more than just inclusion.

According to an article at broadband-finder.co.uk, these were the exact sentiments expressed by broadband expert, Stephen Dodson at a Westminster eForum called ‘Broadband for All?'. "It actually isn't about digital participation," he stated. "It's actually about tackling the big core social, economic, environmental [issues] and better service delivery."

To me, it seems that the multiple advantages to communities and individuals of having access to broadband, mean that we should push for more than two megabits per second. With the latest figures concerning the lack of places for students at university - for many who are located in rural areas it might be too little, and too late to help them.

So who will be the first to see the benefits? In his response to the Digital Britain report, Bishop Nigel McCulloch (Senior Church of England Spokesman) praised the plans but warned against the possibility of the scheme to turning into a postcode lottery. I would agree with this wholeheartedly, and suggest that as the government begins to implement Broadband for All, they first look to the education benefits of distance learning courses and online education - and make the first steps in working against the problems caused by the recession and lack of places available at our crowded universities.

Sarah Maple is writing for Kaplan about degree courses and education in general.