Fibre GarDen, a rural broadband project based in the Yorkshire Dales has called for local funding to kick start its plans.
An additional £225,000 is needed for the project, which aims to get 30Mbps and 100Mbps speeds out to Dentdale and Garsdale.
Supporters are being asked to pledge amounts ranging from £100 to £20,000.
Fibre GarDen has already secured £435,000 of funding for the project from the RCBF (Rural Community Broadband Fund) and the Yorkshire Dales National Park, which will directly benefit from the project.
Read our guide to Fibre GarDenAndrew Fleck, chair of Digital Dales (trading as Fibre GarDen) says:
“This is our one-off chance to bring this vital, modern lifeline to our Dales, in the same way our forebears brought the railways and electricity.
“Public spirit in our community knows no bounds and we have the tough determination to get this done. Let us create our own destiny; with so much achieved to date the finishing line is rapidly approaching.”
Fibre GarDen hopes to have the first homes connected to superfast broadband speeds by Christmas this year and intends to have the entire project finished by 2014.
The project will be the first broadband pilot scheme in the country to use Network Rail’s backhaul. This will be provided on a wholesale basis, meaning subscribers fees will go towards covering the cost of renting this out.
Any profits earned from Fibre GarDen will be issued to shareholders and there is a right to return on investment at at time of the project’s existence.
The share offer window is open from September 16 to December 15, or until the £225,000 goal has been reached.
Image: ARG_Flickr/Flickr
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