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sector: lobbying |
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location: Vale of Belvoir, Leicestershire |
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methods used: email, word of mouth |
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website: www.belvoirbroadband.co.uk |
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In the Vale of Belvoir, the villages are succeeding by doing what communities have always done best – by working together, pooling their resources and by making sure that instead of a few, small voices, they speak with a single powerful one. |
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The Vale of Belvoir is actively pursuing two major options for broadband Internet access - ADSL, for which British Telecom must upgrade the Vale's telephone exchanges or Wireless Broadband which may extend, or even completely replace, BT's ADSL services. |
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There is a concerted effort to include the villages and towns across the whole of the Vale, from Melton to Bottesford. To help concentrate efforts and maximise their impact, the Belvoir campaign website acts as a central repository where other campaigners can contribute and inform visitors. |
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Mike Smith runs the Vale of Belvoir site, and co-ordinates the campaign information. He's used his experience on this website to run a similar site for the village of Long Clawson. |
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"This service is a great example of how such initiatives can reach and serve a community, becoming a focal point for the campaign for change," said Mike. "So much so that the site won the Village of the Year 2002 for IT use in the region." |
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As a result of all this hard work, the campaign is progressing well and BT is in advanced discussions about which of the nine exchanges will most successfully meet the needs of the whole community. |
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The Vale of Belvoir – visit the Vale's broadband campaign website
Long Clawson – award winning website for the village
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