Question reference: S6W-00418
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 2 June 2021
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Current status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 15 June 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many projects Community Broadband Scotland has supported in each of the last five years.
Answer
Following an extensive review of how best to deliver support to community networks, it was concluded that – despite helping to deliver a number of successful community projects – Community Broadband Scotland (CBS) was no longer the most viable model. As such, CBS was officially closed down in January 2018, with communities given the option of continuing with their own project with public sector support or being included in the Reaching 100% (R100) programme, with all 15 remaining pipeline communities opting for the latter option.
In total, 18 community projects received grant funding, totalling £2.1 million, through CBS – delivering a total of 1,490 connections. In financial year 2016-17, CBS grants totalled around £313,000. In financial year 2017-18, they totalled around £19,000.