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CLA criticises complex rural broadband funding process
The funding process for rural broadband rollouts is "horrendously complex", the CLA argues.
Speaking to Farmers Weekly, the CLA's head of rural business development Dr Charles Trotman described the funding process involved in the scheme as "horrendously complex".
For communities to access their share of the £530 million of investment available through BDUK, they must commit to match-funding and - theoretically - pledge to complete their projects by 2015.
Although Dr Trotman supports the principles of rural broadband funding, he is opposed to the methods used to deliver the cash. "It could have been a lot easier," he argued.
BT is the only company left in the running for BDUK broadband contracts, after smaller network operators pulled out of the race.
Even Fujitsu, the multinational technology giant, quit the process after claiming it had been effectively ruled out by various conditions put in place by the government.