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Telecoms union calls for universal broadband
By Tim Richardson
Posted: 22/10/2002 at 16:17 GMT


Broadband should be available in every home and business in the UK, according to the Communications Workers Union (CWU).

In a blunt message the CWU was critical of the Government’s approach so far to broadband and called on it to be more proactive in the roll-out of high speed Net access in the UK.

Speaking at the TMA Conference in Brighton today Jeannie Drake, Deputy General Secretary of the CWU, said that the universal availability of broadband was essential to the future competitiveness of the country.

"Broadband has been a long time coming. We have been calling for it from the mid 1970s. [no you haven't - Ed] Only now are we seeing the beginning of a national broadband network," said Ms Drake.

"We want to push broadband up the political agenda. We want Government to be more proactive regarding the broadband agenda," he said.

The union admitted that it had a 'self interest' in the roll-out of broadband in the UK but maintained that it was too important for Government to ignore.

One seasoned industry insider told The Register: "Universal access? Not that old chestnut." ®

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/27727.html