This article is from page 19 of the 2005-09-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 19 JPG
HOUSEHOLDERS in Newmarket- on-Fergus and Sixmilebridge have accused Eircom of failing to deliver on its promise to provide broadband in the area.
In correspondence with Clare County Council earlier this year, E1r- com confirmed that both areas would be digitally enabled between April and June. It would mean that broad- band should be available in these areas within a three-and-a-half kilo- metre radius of the local exchange, at
a cost of €39.99 every month, along with an installation fee of €199 plus VAT.
However, local Councillor Pat Mc- Mahon says this promise has not been delivered upon.
‘I have made enquiries and while Eircom said they would send out a technician, this does not appear to have been the case. A lot of houses are still waiting for broadband. Sec- ond and third level students need broadband a lot and have been wait- ing for too long,” said Cllr McMa- tee
He pointed out that some people living in the Newmarket-on-Fergus and Sixmilebridge areas are consid- ering changing to other service pro- viders, given their concern over the broadband issue.
“Broadband is all over the world at this stage. It is a basic necessity, yet hundreds of houses in our area are without it,” said Cllr McMahon.
However, a spokesman for Eircom disputes this and says local concerns are being catered for, with issues ad- dressed within ten working days. He
said an exchange did come on line in these areas at the end of July and the lines have been upgraded.
“Technicians do not necessarily have to go to a customer’s house to enable broadband. It is important to note that a number of factors have to be taken into account. For example, if a telephone line is a carrier line, it may prevent a customer from getting broadband,” said spokesman Paul Bradley.
“It is not guaranteed to put an ex- change in place which would cater for everybody. Broadband is availa-
ble within a three-and-a-half kilome- tre radius of an exchange.” he added.
He has advice for customers who have concerns. “Each person should get on to us individually with their OKs (up sltvesl alone
Eircom says a national programme for the roll-out of broadband serv- ices has been ongoing for a number of years, with responsibility lying within the remit of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.