If you’re frustrated with the speed of your internet connection, Durham County Council may be able to help.
The Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme (BBSS) gives cash grants to homes and businesses which do not have access to speeds of at least two megabits per second.
Digital Durham – which administers BBSS in County Durham on behalf of the UK government – can provide up to £350 towards the cost of installing a better connection.
Alan Patrickson, head of digital and customer services at Durham County Council – which leads Digital Durham – said, “Our programme has brought faster fibre broadband to more than 120,000 households and businesses to date, with another 15,000 set to benefit in the next year.”
“There are a small percentage of properties which we are unable to connect at this stage.”
“However, the Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme may be able to help people get access to faster internet speeds now through alternative technologies such as satellite, 4G or wireless, and we’d really encourage them to find out whether they’re eligible.”
@DigitalDurham resulted in over 105,000 properties having access to fibre broadband in #Durham! Can they help you? https://t.co/N7jpqkqdoX pic.twitter.com/JoGhAHc2GX
— DurhamCountyCouncil (@DurhamCouncil) October 9, 2017
The BBSS scheme contributes towards the hardware and installation costs of getting connected, but residents will still need to pay any additional charges such as monthly service fees.
The scheme is being rolled out in two stages. The first stage saw 107,000 homes and businesses being given faster connections and it is hoped the second stage will see a further 29,000 hooked up to faster broadband by September 2018.
Digital Durham is a £34-million project which aims to transform broadband speeds across the north east.
In addition to Durham County Council, Digital Durham offers the BBSS scheme in partnership with Darlington Borough Council, Gateshead Council, North Tyneside Council, South Tyneside Council, Sunderland City Council, Middlesbrough Council, Hartlepool Borough Council, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.
To find out more about the Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme and Digital Durham, please go to www.digitaldurham.org.
(Featured image courtesy of John Lester, from Flickr Creative Commons)
