NEW Government plans to introduce a universal service obligation for broadband of 10mbps have been welcomed by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which represents thousands of land owners, farmers and rural businesses throughout the North.

The CLA says that access to fast, reliable broadband is a significant issue for many rural businesses in the region and it has campaigned for over 10 years on the issue.

According to CLA north regional director Dorothy Fairburn, the announcement is a major breakthrough for rural communities and will make a big difference to all those living and working in the countryside.

She said: “Rural businesses and communities have been affected by poor or non-existent broadband for far too long and this announcement is a victory for the CLA’s long-running campaign for universal broadband.”