A rural internet provider may finally be about roll out their scheme for gigabit broadband in Kirkby Lonsdale - but are relying on further investment from the town.
B4RN (Broadband for the Rural North) is a community-led, not-for-profit Internet Service Provider (ISP) which provides broadband to many areas surrounding Kirkby Lonsdale but the long-awaited project to install the service into the town is a different prospect, according to Mark Gray, from B4RN.
"In terms of the B4RN model, Kirkby Lonsdale is very urban," he said.
"Because of the way B4RN works, rural landowners give permission to cross their land for free, allowing ducting to be dug in for the fibre.
"In villages like Kirkby Lonsdale, contractors go up the pavements and across roads instead.
"B4RN enables communities to build their gigabit broadband network and, because of our set up, it can never be bought by a commercial provider.
"Currently government gigabit voucher funding is covering a large percentage of the cost of most of our projects.
"The shortfall is made up by community investment or other means, like grants.
"The local volunteer groups are crucial - they help plan the network; they raise interest; they knock on doors; they do leaflet drops; they are trained to dig and install house kits so the fibre can enter the property.
"Without the volunteers, it wouldn't happen.
"After the build is finished B4RN maintains the network and handles customer service."
David Stamp, from the B4RN for Kirkby Lonsdale group, announced a drop-in session on Thursday 17 March at the Kirkby Lonsdale Methodist Church Hall from 5pm - 7pm where residents can find out out about the benefits gained from signing up.
"Largely, the installation in this area will be what B4RN refers to as a hard dig, that is the fibre-optic ducts will be laid in the roadway and pavements," he said.
"With the complexity of Kirkby Lonsdale, the installation will take place in three phases."
Mr Stamp is urging people to spread the word and to sign up as B4RN will be reviewing the project in April and the project still requires another £100,000 investment go ahead.
"If you invest £1,500 you will get a free connection (normally £150).
"You can invest up to £100,000 per individual.
"You have to invest for a minimum of three years and you will currently get a dividend of five per cent per annum.
"At the end of the three year period, you can either keep the shares and continue to receive the annual dividend, or you can sell your shares back to B4RN for exactly the same price you paid for them."
Visit b4rn.org.uk/postcode-checker for more information
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