Culture Secretary Maria Miller has written to local authorities saying her ‘strong preference’ was for councils to communicate with their communities. It has been reported that Miller has become frustrated with councils that are reluctant to break bad news to sections of their residents.
‘I would strongly encourage those of you [councils] who have already signed contracts [with broadband providers] to arrange for the proposed coverage from your project to be published as soon as possible, and for those of you yet to sign contracts to incorporate it into your initial mobilisation activities,’ she wrote.
Miller said the lack of publicly available information was hindering broadband providers and community groups from developing local broadband plans to fill in gaps in coverage.
Her letter added: 'BT has confirmed to me that it is willing for information on the outline plan for the subsidised footprint to be published, and is happy to support local governments to decide on the right way to do this.’
The government aims to provide superfast broadband to 95% of the UK by the end of 2017.
Earlier this month, the National Audit Office reported that broadband rollout plans would beachieved almost two years later than planned.
