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Sign up here for a better Broadband Britain

Campaign seeks 1m signatures by Xmas

A UK businessman is looking to collect one million signatures by Christmas as part of a campaign to highlight the failures of Broadband Britain.

PR and marketing man Barrie Desmond says he is "fed up" with the current state of play of high speed DSL and leased line services in the UK, and has launched broadband4britain.co.uk to campaign for change.

"Broadband Britain - more like broadbanned in Britain," he scoffs on his campaign Web site.

In a no-nonsense approach Mr Desmond punches out his concerns claiming that the "wheels have come off the UK's Broadband-Wagon" and that the "cost for services are rising" and "economic development is being affected".

He blames the failure of Broadband Britain on the cost of deployment and services, lack of awareness and "Bt's stranglehold" on DSL services.

Speaking to The Register Mr Desmond's anger and frustration with current broadband services was clearly evident.

He said that there is "such bad feeling" in the country at the moment and that he no longer wanted to be "one of the silent majority".

"I'm looking to get a million signatures and then dump them on the Government's doorstep," he said.

In a statement he added: "High speed broadband services should be like water - a fundamental given right. At this time, the UK's record is scandalous.

"Analysts say Broadband in Britain is in decline and even Bill Gates has commented on the poor state of the UK in broadband terms, calling it the biggest threat to the Internet in the UK.

"Blair can say what he wants about Broadband Britain - it's a joke. The wheels of the 'broadband-wagon' are falling off," he said.

Mr Desmond, whose company represents a broadband wireless operator, said that the campaign received no backing from any of his clients and was wholly independent, representing his views and opinions as an independent marketing consultant and small business owner.

Later this week the Government is due to respond to the report submitted by the Broadband Stakeholder Group in the autumn, which called for a series of initiatives, including tax breaks, to boost the take-up of hi-speed Internet services in the UK.

However, a leaked draft report seen by The Register explained that even if all the initiatives contained in the report were carried out the UK would still fail to meet Government broadband targets. ®

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