There’s good news for businesses and home-owners in Fradley and Hamstall
Ridware who have been waiting for broadband. Michael Fabricant was told
by BT’s Chairman, Sir Christopher Bland in December last year
"Residents in Fradley are connected to one of our smaller exchanges and
it is not included in our planned enablement programme. We have
approximately 565 small exchanges in a similar situation to that of the
Fradley exchange". But now, following sustained pressure, Advantage
West Midlands have told Michael that they will help fund the upgrading
of the Fradley exchange and will enable Hamstall Ridware too.

"This is good news indeed", says Michael. "Although BT have enabled
larger exchanges like Lichfield and Burntwood and recently, Abbots
Bromley went on line too despite some initial technical difficulties,
there was little hope for Fradley and small villages like Hamstall
Ridware. Now, Advantage West Midlands will be investing around £5
million of taxpayers’ money to enable less economic exchanges to
broadband. At a time when rural areas are under financial pressure,
access to broadband becomes even more important to sustain the economic
viability of the area.

"I am told that upgrading exchanges throughout the region will begin in
October. I will be pressuring Advantage West Midlands to start early in
Staffordshire" adds Michael.

Photo shows Michael Fabricant with the Advantage West Midlands ‘Power of
Broadband’ promotion team.