Please do read the article below in the Swindon Advertiser which outlays the way the scheme works. We can also confirm that:

The scheme needs a good level of support from residents on the electoral register (the figure used for calculating the sign up %) for Chiseldon Parish. There is a threshold of households needed to make the scheme become viable. This does not cost anything to do so and the pledge is stating that your voucher value will go towards funding this scheme for the community. Once the minimum set limit of pledges has been reached, Openreach then advise the Government that the threshold is reached. The Government will then release the additional funds needed for the scheme to be cost effective under the Governments rural broadband scheme.

Once the scheme is approved Openreach has 12 months to start installation.

The only outlay for households & businesses is to subsequently buy a package from a provider for your broadband that would allow you to use this faster service – such as Talk Talk, Sky, Vodafone, BT or Zen.

If you choose not to do this, you will experience the same internet speeds & service as you do now.

If you decide to take on the service after the installation period ends then your costs may be higher.

A residential voucher is worth £1,500 and a business voucher is worth £3,500. If you have a business that runs from your home address or premises you may want to consider pledging your business voucher as you cannot claim both.

Chiseldon Parish Council

From the Swindon Advertiser:

NEIGHBOURS and businesses in Wanborough and Chiseldon can register their interest in receiving BT Openreach fibre broadband.

The government’s gigabit voucher scheme means that eligible rural homes can get a voucher worth £1,500 while small businesses can get one worth up to £3,500.

This will pay for the installation of superfast internet.

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland said: “Following many meetings between myself, Coun Gary Sumner and BT Openreach, we are pleased to announce that eligible residents in Wanborough and Chiseldon are now able to register their interest in Openreach Fibre Broadband, utilising government funding.

“Along with Coun Gary Sumner, Coun Jenny Jefferies and Coun Brian Mattock, I am pleased that this option is now available after we have championed the issue of behalf of many local residents.”

The government announced in September that more than £22 million of additional funding would be invested in the broadband voucher scheme, which subsidises the costs of building gigabit-capable broadband networks to hard-to-reach areas.

The broadband enables internet download speeds of up to 1,000 megabits per second- enough to download a HD movie in less than 30 seconds and lay the foundations for 8K-quality video streaming and virtual reality online gaming.

Register your interest at www.openreach.com/connectmycommunity