Broadband – Rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme

Broadband – Rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme

Homes and small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in rural parts of the East Riding that cannot currently access internet speeds over 30Mpbs may be eligible for funding from the Rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme to help them connect to gigabit-capable broadband provision.
This is a national, government-funded scheme to improve broadband connectivity, but East Riding of Yorkshire Council is also investing £ 500,000 to ‘top up’ the available funding in order to help connect harder-to-reach groups of rural premises. The top-up funding forms part of the Broadband East Riding programme, which to date has enabled over 50,000 properties in the East Riding to access superfast broadband.

Through the Gigabit Voucher Scheme and top-up funding, eligible residential properties in rural areas in the East Riding will be able to access voucher funding of up to £3,000 per property, while eligible businesses can access a maximum of £7,000 per property.

Eligible applicants should apply directly to a participating broadband supplier of their choice. Suppliers will request the vouchers on behalf of their customers and the value of the voucher will contribute to the build cost of installing a gigabit-capable connection at the customer’s premises. In some cases, residents/businesses may be required to contribute to the cost of the work if the voucher funding does not sufficiently offset commercial delivery costs. Applications must be part of a ‘group’ project comprising two or more eligible premises.

Further details of the Scheme, including eligibility criteria, postcode checker and participating suppliers, can be found on the national website at:

www.gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk

The vouchers will be distributed on a first come, first served basis and all applications must be submitted by 31 March 2021.


** East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Broadband East Riding project team would greatly appreciate the help of Rural Partnership members in cascading details of this Scheme via their websites, newsletters, networks or contact lists to help raise awareness of the funding available for residents and businesses