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Rural broadband can combat social exclusion, report says |
Mobile phones and broadband coverage improvement could prevent young people leaving after education.
A government rural advocate report has stated social exclusion as a reason why young people cannot easily stay on in the countryside when they leave education.
The government's rural advocate, Dr Stuart Burgess, has gathered information from communities in all parts of rural England.
The report suggests a practical action that could make a difference to social exclusion, of a push to improve mobile phone and broadband coverage in rural areas.
60 per cent of urban areas can receive cable-based broadband, compared with only 1.5 per cent of villages and hamlets.
Burgess said: "Lack of broadband and mobile phone coverage in many rural areas is hitting young people and businesses alike – be it through recruitment and employment, better access to learning and support services or enjoying the connectivity that has become an everyday feature of urban youth culture, such as joining a social network or getting internet help with homework."
Further information:
Directgov
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