GOVERNMENT plans to throw open the high-speed Internet broadband market still ignore the needs of rural businesses which are still; reliant on slow and expensive dial-up connections, says the Country Land and Business Association.

The Government watchdog Ofcom has announced that it will deregulate the market to encourage superfast broadband connections, a reflection of past criticism of British Telecom’s speed in adapting to new technologies.

But this will still not help out rural business which in some remote areas like parts if the Yorkshire Dales are still without any form of broadband link.

Says CLA Yorkshire Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn: “Ofcom has yet again failed to understand the needs of rural communities. Quite simply, the practical effect of deregulating broadband will be to create such a gulf between rural and urban areas that the rural economy could find itself on its knees very soon.

“If we are not very careful, rural people will become second class citizens compared to those in urban conurbations.

“The more Government wants to regulate rural business through the internet - for example with the Whole Farm Approach - the more important fast broadband in rural areas becomes. We must be given the tools with which to do the job – namely, affordable and effective broadband for all.”

Miss Fairburn added: “We accept common standard services for telephone, electric, water, roads, schools health and public transport – many being supported by public funds. If the private sector cannot find a way to fund broadband in rural areas, the tax payer must contribute. Rural areas have a fundamental part to play in the recovery of the economy.

“The CLA calls once more on both the public and the private sector to understand that neglecting rural Britain by failing to provide accessible broadband will turn a difficult position today into an intractable one for the future.”