The most interest I had was at the pub, later. Mind, I guess I went to mix and network, so perhaps that's why I felt that the actual debate was humdrum. There I found several 'consultants' who were there to 'find out' about blogging and how they could profit from it. Though talking to some they were seemingly pretty clueless when it came not only blogging, but also technology. But then, that's what I thought of the night. There's me down from the sticks, grass still behind my ears, and the seat of power without an email address for the Prime Minister nor WiFi anywhere within. OTH, I was naive about the business that fed off politics. I mean did you know that the Government had earmarked £2.2 billion for broadband access for their rural operations centres, and that nobody had asked for any of it? Here's some background, not sure when from. It seems the Gov is full of angst, and indecision. The usual debate where technology is concerned. "Shall I wait till next year when the computer will be cheaper and more powerful or get it now?"

Stephen Timms, e-commerce minister according to Hansard (Dec 2002): "The Department of Trade and Industry has made available £30 million to the RDAs and Devolved Administrations for pilot projects to extend broadband access. Several of the recipients have used this fund to enable small businesses to access broadband via satellite technology. For example, the South West Development Agency, East Midlands, Development Agency, East of England Development Agency and Advantage West Midlands are collaborating in the Remote Area Broadband Inclusion Trials (RABIT) programme to trial alternative broadband Internet access to small businesses in rural areas using wireless and satellite. The scheme has been operating since September 2002. Some £700 is made available to each company. By the beginning of December, 264 applications had been approved, of which 75 per cent. to 80 per cent. involve satellite trials. About 1,800 to 2,000 companies are expected to participate in the programme to December 2003." From what I know about the RDA here (Advantage West Midlands) they are terribly risk adverse, and from what I gleaned last night this is endemic in e-biz sections of local Gov and quangos across the country.

Stephen Timms, e-commerce minister according to Hansard (Nov 2002): "My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced yesterday that the outcome of the Spending Review 2002 shows that a total of approximately #6 billion will be invested in electronic governmentÑincluding £1 billion towards high-speed broadband connectivity. Existing funds for regional economic development (and RDAs will have £1.8 billion in 2003Ð04 for this purpose) can also make a contribution where lack of broadband is a barrier to economic development. That is why I announced in June the intention to establish a regional broadband unit to use the public sector's spending power to boost availability and take-up in rural areas." Fuck loads of money! And fuck loads of reading about Rural Broadband Services. And loads to read on the Remote Area Broadband Inclusion Trial. And more here: Wired-up Communities. Have to say I'm not so interested in wiring up remote locations, not personally, more interested in the blogging opportunities for SMEs and blogging as a bridge across the digital divide and as a means of life long learning.

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Other title(s) for this story: The money in politics