Improving Broadband

The Department should, in respect of both the Superfast and Future Programmes: a) work with suppliers and Ofcom to address customer issues with broadband and encourage take-up, to help realise the benefits from widespread broadband envisaged in its Superfast Programme’s business case and to ensure the Future Programme also achieves the benefits of gigabit-capable technology;

• the extent to which it intends to follow an “outside-in” approach;

• those local areas which will still not be covered by the final 20% of the Future Programme and any mitigations to ensure that these areas are not left behind; and

• how and when it intends to review and update these plans to ensure transparency about what it considers to be deliverable and by when.

b) set out how it will ensure better outcomes for consumers, including any relevant learning from similar programmes, so that they have both choice and the ability to switch providers; and

c) set out how it intends to measure the benefits of its investment, including setting programme-specific objectives as clear measures of success for its Future Programme.

In respect of the Future Programme, it should: d) set out how it intends to improve its data, including how it will: • secure the required quality of data for identifying which areas and premises it intends to subsidise;

• replicate local body knowledge and systems; and

• encourage suppliers to set out their plans;

e) set out how it will retain local body expertise in a centralised procurement model, including how it will mitigate the risk of financial pressures on local government leading to broadband teams being disbanded;

f) present a detailed plan and schedule, reflecting on learning from the recent pandemic to pinpoint gaps in current broadband provision, identifying: • how it will meet the proposed timeline together with additional costs and benefits of accelerating the programme;

• the key risks to delivery, costs and outcomes and its proposed mitigation approaches;