On Wednesday July 23 2008 the BBC reported on the increasing interest in community focused, or so-called "DIY" fibre projects across the country. See the full story entitled DIY schemes for super-fast net here. The story highlights several of the key benefits that a high speed fibre network can deliver.

Recent studies estimate that accelerating broadband deployment in the US would have a total annual economic impact of $134 billion. Additional economic impacts show the potential for a further $130 billion across healthcare, education, job creation and retention, environmental impact etc.

(I picked this story up via this link, and as and when I can find a link to the original report/s I'll post that here also.)

BT today announced a £1.5 bn investment in fibre deployment in the UK. This is an important first step in the widespread deployment of fibre networks across the UK, although one has to say that the announcement raises more questions than it answers.

At just 10% of the estimated figure for a national roll-out, BT is clearly hoping and expecting that Regional Development Agencies and/or local authorities across the country are going to offer to partner with them - and put cash on the table - to deliver fibre, especially into rural areas.

Essentially, here in the Colne Valley, and more widely throughout the South Pennines region if the project develops as we hope it will, our vision is to build and run an Open Public Local Access Network, or OPLAN. Malcolm Matson the leading proponent of this model, has been arguing the case most eloquently for a number of years. This video of a presentation he made to a conference in the Netherlands in late 2006 sets out many of the core arguments that support our project.

"Super-fast broadband is crucial to the UK’s future. These next generation networks form part of the critical infrastructure of the country’s economy and will be central to the way we live our lives in the future.

Super-fast next generation broadband will come to change our perception of communications radically. Alongside mobile broadband, it will, in time, have a similar impact on our society and economy as first generation of broadband.

Not just in information and entertainment, but in how businesses and consumers organise themselves and interact and, increasingly, in aspects of our lifestyles such as healthcare."...

For an effective and humorous introduction to the difference between FTTH and current ADSL broadband watch this excellent short video commissioned by OFCOM's Consumer Panel (OFCOM is the UK telecoms regulator):

This interesting video interview offers a useful insight into the value of community owned next-gen networks in the US.