The Campaign

Why did we start the campaign?

Rural Cumbria has some of the worst broadband in the UK. Many residents still inhabit so-called ‘notspots’, places where there is no broadband service at all.

Access to the Internet is fast becoming as indispensable to modern life as access to electricity and running water. Even the government now calls broadband the fourth utility.

We had to make sure that Cumbria was not left behind.

What have we achieved so far?

On 20 October, it was announced that parts of Cumbria had been selected to pilot the next generation of high speed broadband.

We, the communities of rural Cumbria, won this prize after we showed the government how badly we wanted it.

Over a hundred of us gathered at a major international conference in Penrith on 18 September organised by Rory Stewart, MP for Penrith and the Border, to show the Minister for Broadband, Ed Vaizey, what we were prepared to do.

Since then, we have held many events in our communities, like the first meeting of the Broadband Champions, when over 150 of us from parishes across rural East Cumbria gathered in Great Asby to discuss the superfast broadband pilot with representatives from BDUK.

What are we aiming for?

We want to have the best superfast broadband in Europe. By 2012, we aim to make at least 30 of our parishes into hyper-connected communities where everything that can communicate through the network will communicate through the network. We will ensure that no one is left behind.

Read the Eden Declaration to find out more about our aims and what we are prepared to do to achieve them.

The Declaration is a ‘living document’: join this group to discuss its content.

What can you do to help achieve those aims?

First, show your support and join the campaign by creating  an account on this site.

To discuss the declaration, please join this group.

As a member of this site, you can meet and connect with other people campaigning in your community. You can join the discussion and find answers to your questions. You can find out about local events.

We are hoping that every parish will appoint its own broadband champion and have its own dedicated site to drive the campaign locally. Check our My Community page to find out more.