Category Archives: NBP

Broadband (NBP) Contingency Plans

Meath County Council Ordinary Meeting
5th November 2018, Council Chamber

8 Notice of Question
8.1 Submitted by Councillor Trevor Golden

Given delays and recent developments with the NBP, does Meath County Council have any contingency plans to assist rural communities/groups access broadband services or to assist operators provide service?

Response: Meath County Council, through the Broadband Officer, has been engaging with mobile phone companies to identify black spot areas, and to work with them to improve mobile phone and broadband services across the county. Possible sites on Meath County Council land have been put forward and are being reviewed and progressed where a match to need and site suitability is found. Several new sites on private lands have been completed in the last year and others are currently in development. The companies have all expressed an interest in developing further sites across the county. If any Councillor is interested in helping to improve services in their area by identifying possible locations, information on targeted blackspot areas is available from the Broadband Officer. For the safety and security of rural residents, as well as to improve their capabilities for social and economic growth, Co. Meath will need to improve its mobile phone and broadband coverage. In order to do this, additional mast sites are needed to improve coverage.Meath County Council will also apply for funding to provide free public Wi-Fi access in centres of public life through the WIFI4EU programme.

Link to Minutes on Meath County Council

Improving Broadband in Meath

I have been working with the Economic Department of Meath County Council and the East Border Region on the issue of Broadband. Today I had a motion below which was passed by the members of Meath County Council.

Motion – Cllr. Trevor Golden

“Meath County Council calls on the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in-conjunction with Comreg to introduce  a Universal Service Obligation (USO) for Functional Internet Access (FIA) of not less than 2Mbits until the National Broadband Scheme is fully implemented.”

Broadband in County Meath

Working to improve Broadband in County Meath

Broadband in the East Border Region with Comreg & OFCOM

‘Broadband: Accessible to All’?

Since becoming a member of the East Border Region I have raised the issue of Broadband on several occasions. Following on from this today we are inviting Comreg and OFCOM to a special meeting ‘Broadband: Accessible to All’? I will be raising many  issues including the USO, Roll-out, coverage and quality of service. I am also delighted to have Deirdre from Causey Farm in Girley, Fordstown, Navan, Co. Meath attending the event to give an account of the issues facing local businesses.