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By Anonymous on Friday, 07 May, 2004 - 03:57 pm:

I think I'm in the right place to ask this question.

Can CIBI please inform us specifically who is on the project steering board? Just list their job titles and who they represent if there are any privacy worries.

Then we can be assured that all stakeholders are there and we can lobby as appropriate.

Thanks in advance.

By Jennifer Holliday, Moderator on Friday, 07 May, 2004 - 05:26 pm:

The CIBI partner organisations are listed on the CIBI website and each organisation nominates who represents them on the steering group.

CIBI has nothing to hide with regard to who is on the steering group but we must check with partners to ensure that they are happy with any information which is made available, before doing so.

By Anonymous on Saturday, 15 May, 2004 - 04:53 pm:

"CIBI aims to ensure that 0% of people and businesses in Cumbria have access to broadband and are currently NOT on target to begin overseeing that roll out early in 2005 with an objective of completion within 5 years"

The truth at last!!!

By Anonymous on Monday, 17 May, 2004 - 04:05 pm:

It is now 3 weeks since BT's announcement that all exchanges (bar a handfull) will be ADSL enabled. As stated elsewhere in this forum, CIBI did not have any forewarning of BT's intentions, so presumably CIBI have since the announcement investigated the implications so far as it affects their own aspirations for 90+% broadband access. So can CIBI please let us have thier analysis of how BT's plans affect the latest rollout assumptions for Project Access - and the rest of the CIBI project intentions?

By The Doctoooor!! on Tuesday, 18 May, 2004 - 05:54 pm:

Dear Anon,

Yes, CIBI have had 3 weeks to consider the implications of the BT announcement, but what you have to remember is that CIBI works on a different space time continuum. What is 3 weeks in earth human time, is only 1 day in the CIBi space timeframe. If you work on that basis then they are probably on target to meet their planned rollout date of late spring. (CIBI time).

Fortunately, I have the ability to use a transporter that uses the product of anti-matter meeting matter. This generates phenomenal energy which I can use to go back in time. So to me, the announcement that the project was seeking Euro funding was only yesterday.

If you need to hitch a ride, just point your satellite dish at Ursa Major and press the red button on your handset. When the options come up, select Mars Express. I'll be there before you've pressed the button!

Regards,

The Doctooor!!

By Anonymous on Wednesday, 19 May, 2004 - 04:57 pm:

Whilst we are waiting for CIBI to consider their reaction to BT's announcement of last month, will CIBI please oblige us with answers to the following?

(i) where does CIBI's current funding come from?

(ii) where can we see CIBI's accounts?

Thank you.

By Anonymous on Monday, 24 May, 2004 - 09:42 am:

It has all gone very quiet - can CIBI provide an update on your Project - you must realise that there are hundreds (if not more) very interested people out here who have to make decisions about alternatives (i.e. sit it out and wait for BT) if your project is now a dead duck, as is suggested elsewhere in this forum. Please let us know!

By Jennifer Holliday, Moderator on Wednesday, 26 May, 2004 - 11:05 am:

CIBI wishes to extend an invitation to everyone, named or anonymous, posting on this discussion forum to meet with the CIBI Chairman, Phil Southward, either on a ‘one to one’ or a ‘one to many’ basis to raise issues, put over their viewpoints or ask questions. Email either info@cibi.org.uk or Phil Southward

By Anonymous on Wednesday, 02 June, 2004 - 04:50 pm:

So, do we now wait for BT to ADSL-enable their exchanges in the next 12 months (except for the odd few) or do we wait for this CIBI project to implement something??

If the latter, what and when??

By Jennifer Holliday, Moderator on Wednesday, 02 June, 2004 - 05:21 pm:

Project ACCESS is with HM Treasury for approval. The project team will meet with them in June and until that approval is gained no progress can be made. We will inform people once that has been achieved.

By John from Blawith, Lowick Bridge exchange unfortunately on Monday, 14 June, 2004 - 09:32 pm:

Jennifer, I can understand everyone's frustration at the lack of progress. I am sure you've communicated all you're "allowed" to on the project status so far and, having spoken to you on the subject, I'm sure that you personally are trying your best. What I'm sure we all want to know is why has everything taken so long, is it just government bureaucracy? I have this image of the CIBI committee tearing their hair out at the delays just as we all are. If that's correct then someone, somewhere, is responsible for those delays and should be held accountable.
Finally, can you tell us which day in June the project team is meeting HM Treasury, whether CIBI are confident that approval will be given (I think there will be a march on Westminster if they turn it down!) and how long after this meeting will it be before you are in a position to publish the roll out plan and get moving? I also hope that when (!) approval is given the roll out is completed as fast as is humanly possible so as to meet or exceed the original objective of completion by end of 2004/early 2005.
I notice from the press that BT have already moved the goalposts again and are now talking about using IP for everything (voice, data, video) with fibre to households etc. I hope you will be addressing this in the plan because otherwise by the time we get broadband using current technology the rural/metropolitan divide will be even bigger.

By Anonymous on Wednesday, 16 June, 2004 - 07:33 pm:

John, you haven't been reading the bumpf properly, "the benefit of project access is not as good as expected" - we could of told you that. This means the projects in the bin, lid sealed firmly on and buried at the deepest landfill. All this is just a stalling exercise until BT decide to activate the other exchanges. Its been done before, they're doing it again. Its all a sham.

A march on westminster, bit tame that, rip down the nwda building....now thats more like it.

By Jennifer Holliday, Moderator on Thursday, 17 June, 2004 - 08:50 am:

John, thanks for your supportive comments.

The project team has met with HM Treasury officials this week and we are now awaiting their decision. We hope to have that by the beginning of July.

When approval is received we will move swiftly to finalise the contract and get things moving.

By Anonymous on Thursday, 17 June, 2004 - 09:43 am:

Surely "if" approval is received, not "when"?

By Philip Southward, Chairman CIBI Steering Group on Thursday, 17 June, 2004 - 12:11 pm:

A senior team of NWDA officials met with representatives from HM Treasury on Monday 14th June 2004 to present the final appraisal document delivered by AMION consulting which explains the case and need for Project ACCESS.

This appraisal document takes into account the recent announcements by BT on exchange enablement by Summer 2005 and the impact that these announcements have had upon the project.

The presentation was well received by the Treasury who confirmed that they now had all the information that they needed to deliver a decision on this project.

HM Treasury cautioned that due to the pressures on departmental resources due to the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2004, that they would make every effort to get the decision back to the NWDA by the end of June 2004.

On a personal note I would like to apologise for the delays that we have encountered on the way to arriving at a final decision from all of the parties to this approvals process, but due to the level of public funding required, the ever changing world of technological advancement in this area, the recent announcements by the National deliverer of telecommunications and the overall complex nature on how the project has had to be put together, each party to the decision making process has had to take time to fully understand what the holistic implications are for this project.

As soon as I am able to inform you of the decision I will ensure that it is posted on the CIBI discussion forum.

I assure you all of my total commitment to this project and even as the final stages of the approvals process draw to a close I am making every effort to lobby for support.

Regards

Philip Southward - Chairman - CIBI Steering Group
Senior Responsible Owner - Project ACCESS

By Anonymous on Friday, 02 July, 2004 - 11:54 am:

The message posted here has been removed as it was a advertisement for a commercial provider. Discussion of all aspects of broadband is encouraged but blatant advertising of any individual company's products will not be tolerated.

By Anonymous on Wednesday, 07 July, 2004 - 09:55 am:

Has CIBI closed down??

By Anonymous on Thursday, 08 July, 2004 - 03:00 pm:

I DONT THINK cibi HAS CLOSED DOWN THOUGH FOR WHAT GOOD IT DOES IT MAY AS WELL

By Anonymous on Friday, 09 July, 2004 - 05:27 pm:

Philip,

Its been 3 weeks since your last message, surely you must have met up with treasury commitee by now. Whats the delay! Come on, hurry up, this is getting truly ridiculous, pure farce.

I take it you'll be resigning soon....
Bring back Saddam, all is forgiven. At least he knew how to deal with his public servants.

By Optomistic Cumbrian Resident on Friday, 09 July, 2004 - 06:59 pm:

What a load of whingers and moaners!

Maybe some of you should think about offering some support to those who put a lot of effort in to trying to help this county instead of sitting back doing nothing and whining all the time.

God knows how anyone outside this county views the people of Cumbria with only your constant negative attitudes to judge us by.

CIBI said they would get back to us as soon as there is some news, why can't you just cut them some slack.

I will be happy to see CIBI deliver widespread broadband as it set out to do and you with egg on your faces.

By Anonymous on Monday, 12 July, 2004 - 11:45 am:

I believe that a very senior NWDA person announced last Thursday evening that this project had just been approved by Treasury? If this is the case, can we hear more please?

By Jennifer Holliday, Moderator on Monday, 12 July, 2004 - 10:23 pm:

I believe that a Press Release will be made later this week.

By Anonymous on Tuesday, 13 July, 2004 - 10:39 pm:

And its going to be a press release that none of us are going to like......

By Jennifer Holliday, Moderator on Wednesday, 14 July, 2004 - 02:53 pm:

Northwest Development Agency today announced approval of £20 million for the groundbreaking Project ACCESS, a UK and Regional Development Agency ‘first’, which will enable the roll-out of broadband throughout Cumbria.

Project ACCESS, which will be officially launched in September, will provide broadband to over 95% of businesses and members of the public throughout Cumbria and North Lancashire, extending broadband coverage to areas which would otherwise be unable to receive the technology.

By Clive/Penrith on Saturday, 24 July, 2004 - 03:00 pm:

I'm new to this place so if I am putting this question in the wrong place forgive me.
I live in Penrith (Bowscar) and done the area check and it seesm I shold be able to get broadband...that is till I attempt to sign up fot it, then I am informed it isn't possible to get it here, anyone know why and if it will be possible at any time?

By Jennifer Holliday, Moderator on Monday, 26 July, 2004 - 11:30 am:

Clive, have you tried using one of the BT Internet Service Providers (ISP) rather than one of the others? I have heard that sometimes it is possible to get a connection direct via BT's own ISP.

If successful in getting the connection you do not then have to stay with BT as your ISP you could move to whoever you prefer.

There has also been some discussion on another forum about alternative ISPs who may prove helpful.

By Chrissie from NE CUMBRIA on Tuesday, 10 August, 2004 - 05:25 pm:

As a rather 'remote-based' user of the 'good ol dial-up' system, can anyone advise why 3 of the BT Exchanges in Cumbria are to receive help from the North EAST Initiative, whereas everywhere else is'being connected' by the North WEST (Cumbria) Initiative? I know a good few subscribers will actually live in Northumberland, but, for the rest of us who are still in Cumbria, will the service EVENTUALLY provided be as good as supplied by CIBI??

By Jennifer Holliday, Moderator on Wednesday, 11 August, 2004 - 11:09 am:

Chrissie, One Northeast, the regional development agency for North East England has entered into a contract with BT to provide broadband connectivity to the citizens of their region by having the exchanges which serve them enabled. As you rightly say 3 of those exchanges happen to be located in Cumbria. Therefore subscribers on those exchanges, regardless of where they live, will have access to ADSL broadband according to what the technology is able to deliver. Telephone line length/quality is the key to the speed which will be available to individual subscribers. You can get some initial information on what may be available to you by visiting the BT website and entering your telephone number in the “Can I get it?” box.

CIBI and Project ACCESS aim to ensure that at least 95% of people and businesses have access to affordable broadband. As a minimum, businesses will have access to 2Mb and households 512kb and a mix of technologies will be used to deliver.

By Anonymous on Thursday, 12 August, 2004 - 08:43 am:

CIBI and Project ACCESS aim to ensure that at least 95% of people and businesses have access to affordable broadband. Is it 95% now and a month on from being given the go ahead what is the latest status of Project Access. Keep us informed please.

By Anonymous on Thursday, 12 August, 2004 - 09:27 am:

Might also be helpful for CIBI/ACCESS to provide a breakdown of the £20 million project cost into, e.g.
- amount of public subsidy to Telco PLCs to install infrastructure
- cost of providing government/public sector offices with broadband infrastructure
- "awareness raising" costs, (staff, advertising, events)
- other costs (administration, consultants)

By Anonymous on Friday, 20 August, 2004 - 12:39 pm:

The award of the Project Access contract worth £17.5 million to Your Communications is in today's Official Journal of the European Union for all to see - so why no announcement on this web site??

By Paul, Former Penrith resident on Saturday, 21 August, 2004 - 10:42 am:

U.K. B2B telecoms provider Your Communications has announced that it has
been awarded a £17 million contract by the Northwest Regional Development
Agency (NWDA) to provide broadband access in the U.K.'s North West region.
The deal, which was made public via a stock exchange announcement on
Tuesday, will see the operator extend broadband access to residential,
business and public sector customers in the counties of Cumbria and north
Lancashire.
As well as using Your Communications' existing network in the region, the
project will require the telco's parent company, Cheshire-based water and
electricity provider United Utilities, to build out and operate new telecoms
infrastructure in the two counties. The cost of this new infrastructure will
be met in full by the NWDA.
The telco will use a combination of upgraded local telephone exchanges,
broadband wireless access sites and multipoint systems to extend broadband
coverage in the region. Upon completion of the project in 2005, 95% of
businesses, public sector organisations and households in north Lancashire
and Cumbria will have broadband access. According to Your Communications,
this equates to 450 public buildings, 19,000 businesses and 258,000
residences.
"This deal secures and enhances Your Communications' competitive position in
Cumbria and north Lancashire, and further develops our network density in
the North West of England," said United Utilities chief executive John
Roberts in a statement.
Your Communications has an established position in the region, having
installed fibre network connectivity for public sector and government
initiatives.
NWDA is a government-backed public body established with the remit of
ensuring the sustainable economic development and regeneration of the U.K.'s
North West region

By Paul Fearon (paul) on Saturday, 21 August, 2004 - 08:14 pm:

Looks like very good news (well it will be if you are in one of the areas that they are going to cover)?

May I be so bold as to suggest that if NWDA and Your communications is looking for a place to start then I nominate Moresby Parks!

The only thing that concerns me is that I am going to be one of the 5% that will not have access to Broadband after the Rollout!

Yours expectantly,

Paul.

paul@paulfearon.net

By Anonymous on Monday, 23 August, 2004 - 09:40 am:

So why no word from CIBI about what the YC announcement means, i.e. what/when/where?

And what will the remaining £2.5million of the £20million approved by NWDA be spent on?

By Jennifer Holliday, Moderator on Tuesday, 24 August, 2004 - 12:31 pm:

Paul Fearon, the Project ACCESS coverage information should be available in the next month or so.

With the recent announcement from BT about extended reach it may be that you will be able to get your long awaited broadband connection via the exchange after all. After 6 September you should know so please keep us posted about how you get on with getting ADSL broadband.

By Jennifer Holliday, Moderator on Tuesday, 24 August, 2004 - 12:36 pm:

The total spend for Project ACCESS will be just under £20million over 3 years. The contract is worth around £17.5million to Your Communications and the balance will meet other project costs and internal NWDA costs during that period.

By Paul Fearon (paul) on Tuesday, 24 August, 2004 - 02:50 pm:

Jennifer,

I have already pre-ordered ADSL through eclipse internet, just keeping my fingers crossed!!

Thanks

Paul

paul@paulfearon.net

By I saw Elvis using Broadband in Holmrook on Friday, 27 August, 2004 - 05:42 pm:

Hi Jennifer,

Why another 4-6 weeks. This is becoming bloody silly. That'll mean mid october, till we get another announcement of 6 to 8 weeks ordering time, then 5 weeks to reach trigger level in a village, the 3 weeks to come round and do a check, 2 weeks to install, 4 weeks for activation...where is it going to end... it'll certainly be happy new year, 2006 before i get broadband, if i'm lucky........complete and utter tosh.

FOR SALE.

RACING PIGEONS with 256Mb SD cards, expandable (2 under the wings and 2 up the ass) up to 1 gig. You can release as many as you want per hour. Approximate travelling time for 100 miles = 5 hours. Bargain at £250 a piece and much faster than any project supported by the NWDA or CIBI.

By CIBBY the Dog.....Put me down.....Youve made me suffer enough.....Phone Rolf harris for me...Shoot me...Help me ...woof woof. on Tuesday, 31 August, 2004 - 11:01 pm:

Now that you have the money can say you where the project will be delivered in cumbria or do we have to wait for BT. (Another year and half)

The residents are getting really hacked off with both CIBI and BT. Which I can fully understand as they've waited long enough. Now that you have the money and you have not announced a rollout strategy is crime of the century... Whats the delay now. Or are you making this up as you go along. WHATS THE PLAN.....we wanna know!!!!!

Failing this, just put us out of our misery and say places, X, Y and Z will have to wait for BT.
Just do it and do it fast. (Or I'll get RSPCA on t, yer)

Cibby the Dog.

PS Elvis is Dead, Nutter!!! And Holmrook certainly does not have broadband, Pigeons maybe!!!

By Burgh-by-Sands - which provider is going to deliver? on Thursday, 02 September, 2004 - 11:57 am:

I need broadband at my home location, which is on the Burgh-by-Sands exchange.

BT currently say that the exchange will be ADSL enabled in January 2005, BUT I'm too far away from the exchange, BUT they MAY have a solution to the distance problem in due course....who knows?

Solway Rural Broadband Initiative gained NWDA funding to deliver broadband in the area, BUT they seem to have been unable to deliver anything in our location for reasons unknown.......so maybe they're dead dog?

Project Access has now also got NWDA funding to deliver broadband and have given the contract to Your Communications (not BT)......BUT no details yet where the lucky 95% coverage and the unlucky 5% no coverage are going to be.

Can anyone give me advice as to which of the above (or any other) is most likely to deliver any broadband service in our location in the near future - then I can pester the one organisation rather than expending my energy chasing multiple wannabe broadband service providers?

Thanks in advance,

By Jennifer Holliday, Moderator on Thursday, 02 September, 2004 - 12:16 pm:

Burgh-by-Sands contributor, from 6 September 2004 BT will remove the reach limit for 512kb/sec ADSL broadband. This should mean that many of those people whose telephone line length was previously too long will now be able to get the 512kb/sec service on an enabled telephone exchange.

After 6 September you should be able to enter your telephone number in the box on www.bt.com/broadband and get an indication of whether the 512kb/sec service will be available to you through this extended reach when Burgh-by-Sands is enabled in January.

If you get an indicator that you will still not get the service please contact me directly, info@cibi.org.uk

By Burgh-by-Sands Contributor on Thursday, 02 September, 2004 - 02:06 pm:

Jennifer - thanks for the information, here's hoping.....

By Anonymous on Tuesday, 07 September, 2004 - 07:34 pm:

Dear Elvis, Cibby, Anons, Burger on Sand amd all the other nutters, please give up visiting this site..... You are never gonna get broadband through or from CIBI, I repeat NEVER!!

Save your time effort and misery and play doom3 instead. You'll find it much more rewarding.

If CIBI were going come up with the goods, by now they would of had a strategy that we would of all seen for delivering broadband. It would be in their financial interest to produce this, to let taxpayers know exactly how their buck is being spent.

As you all know we've had nothing from CIBI on how they will deliver, who to and who will do it.
We've waited for a year now for more feedback on the project and we've had nothing. The project was awarded the money on 14th July, nearly 2 months ago and we've had f'all from the project team.

Allegedly, the YOUR communications ring main is going to be used. Strange this one. Give them a call and speak to their public relations department and remind them that they are gonna get 17 million of you hard earnt. I did exactly that, with my credit card in hand ready to sign up for the service.
"YOUR communications",
"no not us" was the reply. "we're not doing anything with domestic customers and broadband."
"Do you care to check what you said there, as you've got 17 million quid of our money. And you've been awarded the contract to supply to domestic and business customers"
"yep, no not us" "business only"
"but youve got 17 million"
"No not us"
"CIBI, you must of heard of CIBI"
"no"

"they got some TAXpayers money and they have given it to you so you can get me, the taxpayer, broadband!!!"
"you know about the 17 million"
"no"

So, please tell me whats going on here. Who are we dealing with. When will the service start. Answers please we've waited long enough.
You owe it to us....come up with the goods or resign.

By Tony Bunce.... still in the dialup wilderness after a year of trying...One year neaer my pine box.....Cheers CIBI... on Tuesday, 07 September, 2004 - 08:13 pm:

Bravo, Bravo.... Dead right, Couldn't agree more. About time someone spoke the truth!!!

I've been travelling for a while and was unsurprised to find that the broadband project had not moved on at all in any way whatsoever. This is a complete shambles all round. A year ago I took round a load of leaflets on the project and have not heard anything positive from the project since. Great, you got the money. Now tell us what your gonna do with it.

You must have a plan of action as I couldn't see anyone at the treasury being foolish enough to award the money without it, "heres 17 million to supply broadband. Don't tell us how your going to do it, just have the money." Tosh....

So, in the words of Jerry maguire "Show me the money"

In other words, when are we going to get broadband, by who and how much....we've waited long enough.

Finally, you and that team at Your Communications should be ashamed about what they said to my comrade in arms. Ashamed.....!!!

Tony Bunce
from the dialup wilderness of Gosforth.

PS.
Perhaps your wondering why we never took the opportunity to meet up with you and discuss the project. I'm afraid to say the we would probably end up in jail at the end of such a meeting and I took the wise decision to avoid such "confrontation." More healthier all round....

By Anonymous on Thursday, 09 September, 2004 - 10:04 am:

To Tony Bunce and Anon,

Clearly you should be directing your questions to the NWDA rather than CIBI, as after all it is the NWDA (not CIBI) who have been awarded the money from HM Treasury.

Ask for asking Your Communications a question, in my experience you are wasting your time trying to deal with them, they don't know what day it is nevermind what's going on in their own company. However, they are right in that they do not deal with consumers or domestic accounts, only with business clients. So, it's a very good question how this project will be delivered commercially to domestic clients in Cumbria. No doubt CIBI will be making a comprehensive announcement to explain this?

Anyway, I'm less interested in CIBI/Project Access now as on Monday this week (when BT removed their "reach limit") I was at able to place an order with BT and have a date from them for Broadband installation. BT seem to have just got on with things and are able to deliver services without the subsidy of Project Access that Your Communications are set to receive?

By Jennifer Holliday, Moderator on Tuesday, 28 September, 2004 - 09:37 am:

Tony Bunce must now be a happy man as he will be able to come in from the dial up wilderness now that the enablement date for Gosforth has been brought forward to 21 October 2004.

By Anonymous on Tuesday, 28 September, 2004 - 10:07 am:

But was the fact that BT have brought forward this enablement date anything to do with the efforts of CIBI, Project Access, or Your Communications?

By Anonymous on Wednesday, 29 September, 2004 - 03:55 pm:

I suggest that anyone living outside the BT "planned roll-out" areas check the BT adsl availability checker for their phone number / post code. (www.bt.com/broadband)

By Anonymous on Thursday, 14 October, 2004 - 04:29 pm:

Is the "Project Access" project delivery plan and timetable published yet?

By bob (bob) on Tuesday, 19 October, 2004 - 12:33 pm:

Given that much of Cumbria will be covered by the BT roll-out of broadband services, no doubt many folks will be looking for a service provider.

Well before you jump to any old ISP (Internet Service Provider) it's worth having a look at http://www.adslguide.org.uk/

If you look at the list page (http://www.adslguide.org.uk/isps/summarylist.asp) for example, you can sort the Total Cost of Ownership for broadband services by service speed. So, you can see which ISP is cheapest for 512k, 1mbit and 2mbit. Don't assume, incidentally, that one ISP will be cheaper for all three!

Once you've checked the prices, you can compare your shortlist of ISPs against eachother for reliability, speed and customer service. Again, this can be found on the adslguide site, under http://www.adslguide.org.uk/isps/compare.asp

The final step is to look in detail at the services provided by your short-list of ISPs. Things to look out for are:

* The minimum contract period (often 12 months, but can be as little as 1 month)

* Any particular service restrictions - bandwidth limits, blocked ports etc.

* Cost to change packages (how much would it cost to change to a higher speed package, or downgrade to a lower speed?)

* Other benefits - many ISPs now advertise centralised firewalls, spam and virus protection. Although they reduce your risk, you should still invest in a software firewall and keep your anti-virus protection up to date.

* Incentives - free modems, free connection and so on can be an incentive to join, but don't be lured into using a rubbish ISP for the sake of a £30 USB modem.

Finally, a quick word about hardware. It is better, in the main, to opt for an all in one ADSL modem / router, rather than a USB modem. First, it makes it far easier to share an internet connection with a number of users. Secondly, most routers help "hide" your PC / home network from the internet, their inbuilt firewalls further reduce your risk of malicious internet activity reaching your PC.

Hope this helps. :-)

By Jennifer Holliday, Moderator on Wednesday, 20 October, 2004 - 09:05 am:

All really good advice, www.adslguide.org is a great starting point to find out about ISPs and what users think of them. Remember that the Yearly Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) figures include installation/set up costs (where applicable, as not all ISPs pass this cost on) as well as the broadband service subscription and therefore the TCO figure may provide a guide to the total cost for the first year only, with subsequent years being less if the ISP does charge the one off installation/set up charge.

Don't rely solely on ADSLguide to make your decision, check out local ISPs, who may be too small to be listed on ADSLguide; ask other people who they use and how they have found the service and have a look at the extensive list of ISPs on the BT website.

Whichever ISP you choose don't overlook the security aspects which Bob has highlighted.

CCC
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