Digital Diggers & Digital Diggers & LevellersLevellers

Co-operative Community BroadbandMalcolm Corbett

•£1m community investment in cash & kind

•Volunteer effort reduces costs

•Future-proofed network•Expected take up rates >60%

•£1m community investment in cash & kind

•Volunteer effort reduces costs

•Future-proofed network•Expected take up rates >60%

B4RN Internet Heroes

B4RN Internet Heroes

US Coop BroadbandUS Coop

Broadband•Local phone & utility co-ops Local phone & utility co-ops serve 10% of US populationserve 10% of US population

•Main recipients of Dept of Main recipients of Dept of Agriculture broadband loansAgriculture broadband loans

•1m rural FTTH connections1m rural FTTH connections

Levelling the FieldLevelling the Field•Members of the community become both Members of the community become both

investors in and users of the serviceinvestors in and users of the service

•Community ownership and control over Community ownership and control over the assetthe asset

•Act as early stage Act as early stage ‘‘riskrisk’’ investors investors

•Tax efficient, low cost business modelTax efficient, low cost business model

•Tried and tested in other sectors of the Tried and tested in other sectors of the economyeconomy