JOIN
THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION - YOUR COMMUNITY SUPER FAST BROADBAND NETWORK
Background
The countdown has now officially started on the launch of our community super fast broadband initiative that will bring our wonderful communities to the very forefront of the digital revolution that is taking place around the world.
The countdown has now officially started on the launch of our community super fast broadband initiative that will bring our wonderful communities to the very forefront of the digital revolution that is taking place around the world.
No more digital poverty, no more excuses from oligopolistic
suppliers who do not care about our community except to leach money from
it.
A network that is owned and operated by our community, for
our community and for the future of our children and others who wish to work
and join the quality of life that we wish to preserve and enhance in the
future.
It is worth restating our basic guiding principles once
again, namely:
a) inclusion for everybody, no matter how remote, (no
"I'm alright jack", nobody left behind, access for all that want a
service)
b) the best possible service that technology and cost will
enable us to have and one that means every benefit from this technological
revolution will be available to all (our super-fast broadband will be the best
that will be available in this country);
c) A future proofed service of fibre to everyone's home
(FTTH) and a one off investment in our future (no half cocked temporary 20th
century copper wire solutions, no excuses, no decisions determined outside of
our community); and finally
d) A community service created by the voluntary efforts of
many, the good will of our farmers on wayleaves and all of it owned by us, the
members of our community (not some faceless bureaucrats, predatory external
parties, others with multiple agendas)
Our Structure
Our new company legal structure has now been created, after
much legal discussion with relevant authorities and advisers, and, like our new
community broadband network, this structure places us at the very forefront of
developments in this area. There are few, if any, who have our advanced
structure.
Our applications to the relevant authorities are now being
filed, our share prospectus is being finalised and we are all set to go in the
very near future to execute the final piece of the money jigsaw that we have
been carefully piecing together.
Our company, registered as Digital Dales (UK) Limted, and
trading as Fibre Garden, will be an Industrial Provident Society - Multi
Stakeholder Cooperative (IPS-COOP)
As a refresher for
all, Co-operative Principles are:
'the principles defined in the International Co-operative Alliance Statement of Co-operative Identity. The principles are those of voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, member economic participation, autonomy and independence, education, training and information, co-operation among co-operatives and concern for the community.'
In
short it is up to us to determine our own destiny.
In clear and simple terms this
means:
i) that the company is owned and operated by you the members
and users;
ii) it will be able to take advantage of the EIS scheme
which means for every pound invested by a member, the government will give a
tax rebate of 30p;
iii) the company will offer withdrawable shares to members
(subject to certain conditions) that will pay interest;
iv) that we will be able to pay dividends to members;
v) that we will be able to support community projects in the
future; and finally
vi) that any long term surplus, or capital appreciation, is
forever locked in to benefit our community
Our Finance
We are expected to also receive substantial financial
support from the government (DEFRA), other social funders and those who
recognise the importance of our project and its objective of community self
determination. To date we have already received significant support, financial
or otherwise, from The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Cumbria County
Council, South Lakeland District Council and our MP, Tim Farron.
We now need to show our determination and commitment by
collecting from our community money through a share issue. In this way by
matched funding we can finalise our project and own it into the future for a
fraction of what it might normally cost.
What do you need to do
The time is now rapidly approaching when our project will be
formally launched. More information will be made available within the month of
July. It will soon be time for you to receive a prospectus and make a
share application.
Only with your individual support can we all collectively
benefit. Each according to their means.
Please watch carefully for further developments and
information including our formal launch plans. Help others in our community to
understand the importance of this matter for our future.
We
have this once in a lifetime chance to make sure our community is
connected with the world in the same way that our Victorian ancestors built our
train service, and our parents received the benefits of the first electricity
to our valleys. Our grandchildren will look back on this moment in the same
way. Let us grab it with energy and enthusiasm and community spirit that we are
known so well for. The future is in your hands.
