Supporting the Local Environment
During the early roll-out of broadband, a number of businesses, keen to take advantage of the technology, were forced to relocate to urban centres, where the service was available. This created a further drain on the local economy, in areas that had already seen the survival of their local shops, post offices and schools put under threat.
The improved effectiveness of communications over broadband is enabling organisations to remain in their rural locations. In fact the availability of rural broadband is convincing some smaller businesses to fulfil their work/life aspirations and move out of the town altogether and into the countryside.
Broadband is also helping schools, health providers and local government by providing better communications. Classrooms can gain specialist lessons over internet video links to teachers in other locations; doctors can trade information with city hospitals and everyone can interact with government through the http://www.direct.gov.uk/ website, whether it's providing a tax return or booking a driving test.