I am contacting you from Digital Essex – Essex County Council’s digital programme – to share some information with you about:
- A public review which is being run by Building Digital UK (BDUK) – the agency responsible for digital infrastructure programmes for the government – to identify areas which are eligible for future public funding for gigabit-capable broadband.
- A new campaign we have launched to raise awareness of low-cost broadband deals for eligible households.
BDUK Public Review
This review will determine which Essex residences and businesses will qualify for future government investment. We are asking all residents and businesses in Essex to respond to the review with their current broadband availability status. To do so, follow the steps below:
- Use this interactive map to identify your current eligibility status for Project Gigabit.
- If the map shows your address with a grey box, this means that gigabit connectivity already exists, or there are plans to get gigabit connectivity to you within three years. You do not need to contact BDUK unless you disagree with this.
- If the map shows your address with a yellow box, this means that BDUK is not aware of any plans to get gigabit connectivity to you within three years. If you agree with this, or you are aware of any plans, please let BDUK know.
- If the map shows your address with neither a yellow nor a grey box, please let BDUK know.
- To respond to the review, follow the instructions available here (‘How to respond to the review’ section). Send this information in an email to ukgigabit@bduk.zendesk.com
- Responses are required before 5pm on the 3rd November 2022.
- If you have any issues seeing the status for your address, you can contact the Digital Essex team via our online contact form.
Social broadband tariff campaign
We have launched a campaign to raise awareness of discounted broadband deals, which are available to residents who receive Universal Credit or other benefits and could save them up to £144 a year on their broadband bills. More information is available in the pdf attached. I have also included an image which can be used on social media alongside the link: www.essex.gov.uk/broadband