| Business broadband and phone packages do not | | | | connectivity by this date. |
| deliver what they promise, because the quality | | | | Of the current service, the FSB says it is worried |
| and speed of connections available from service | | | | that broadband service providers cannot meet |
| providers are slower and less reliable than those | | | | the promises over service levels they are giving |
| advertised. That's according to the Federation of | | | | to business customers. It believes this will not |
| Small Businesses' annual 'Voice of Small Business' | | | | happen until the Government commits to |
| survey, which found that nearly two-thirds (63 | | | | delivering a measurable level of business |
| per cent) of those who took part in the survey | | | | broadband performance, and backs this up with |
| were dissatisfied with the speed and reliability of | | | | the investment needed to ensure that it is |
| their business broadband connection. | | | | achieved. |
| It even found that as many as one business in | | | | FSB National Chairman John Wright said that |
| eight would consider relocating to another area | | | | modern small businesses were particularly |
| which benefited from faster broadband speeds. | | | | dependent on being able to achieve good online |
| The FSB has called on the UK Government to | | | | performance as they grew and played an |
| intensify its efforts to provide a top-quality | | | | important part in lifting the UK economy out of |
| broadband infrastructure across the country, and | | | | recession. |
| to ensure that small firms and individuals have | | | | He added that while promises to tackle areas |
| access to a level of broadband service which was | | | | where no broadband connection had been made, |
| appropriate for their needs. | | | | no action had been taken towards eliminating |
| The government's current commitment, outlined | | | | them. This, he said, amounted to letting down |
| in the Digital Britain report of early 2010, is to | | | | small businesses. |
| have high-speed broadband connections available | | | | He especially urged that telecoms watchdog |
| to 80 per cent of the UK population by 2017. But | | | | Ofcom should be seen to be acting more |
| the FSB has already said that this target will hit | | | | independently of the industry so that it was seen |
| rural businesses hardest, as they are likely to be | | | | to be campaigning to secure a better deal for |
| disproportionately represented among the 20 per | | | | businesses. |
| cent which would not have high-speed broadband | | | | |