Bishop's Castle Broadband Collective At the beginning of 2004, the Bishop's Castle telephone exchange was not due to become broadband-enabled until late in 2005, by which time many businesses might have lost ground to competitors in enabled areas. A group of volunteers formed a collective to rent a satellite link and set up an independent wireless network for the town. The key issue was to connect subscribers quickly so the cost could be shared. The collective hosted a meeting so that Switch on Shropshire could meet all the interested local business in one go. As a result of the publicity generated, and the grants and advice SoS made available, 20 town businesses now operate with broadband, and others are following. Flexible short-term users One of the advantages of the Bishop's Castle Broadband Collective radio system is that users can be connected very quickly and without any fuss. Two visitors from America are staying in the town for three months and were connected within a day, with a commitment for only three months. They say the broadband service they've received in Bishop's Castle has been better than London's! Bishop's Castle Broadband Collective Inhabitants of BC tend to be sturdily independent, with a keen sense of community. BCBC was set up in the spirit of this tradition. It is a not-for-profit collective run by volunteers.

Bishop's Castle Broadband Collective Bishop's Castle

"We climb ladders, conduct house surveys, order and fit the equipment, guide newcomers to the system, and provide support," said Tim Phillips. "The technology may be current, but the group's dependence on DIY, the enthusiasm of volunteers, and the personal touch is a reminder of times past, and the qualities which make the Shropshire borders so special. "Since the collective was launched, BT has brought forward its plans to 'switch on' the town. We're happy to co-exist, and some interesting hybrids seem likely to emerge. A scepticism towards big business leads locals to trust who they know and what they can see. The Bishop's Castle Broadband Collective may lack gloss and capital power, but its emphasis on personal service and a sense of community allows it to offer a viable and distinctive alternative. "We'd like to thanks Business Link and Switch on Shropshire for providing the incentives and an important initial 'focus' that allowed us to get started quickly. We're proud to be a Community Project."

Some of the businesses in the Bishop's Castle Broadband Collective are:

G Bryan Jones Tractors

Main agents for SAME and Lamborghini tractors, whose spare parts and warranty details are now managed directly with the factory online, making the whole process faster and more efficient. Before broadband, it took time to order a new part and only one person could be online at once: now both office and engineers can get instant access at any time. www.gbryanjones.co.uk

The Porch House

The Porch House provides accommodation for visitors to the town, both bed and breakfast and in self-catering apartments. A few years ago visitors wanted telephone lines, now they all have mobile phones but would like internet access. The Switch on Shropshire grant enabled The Porch House to provide a PC for guest use and a radio connection for people with their own wireless-enabled laptops. John Lucas said: "Our visitors welcome broadband, which is a surprise for them given the historic surroundings." www.theporchhouse.com

Decorative Antiques

Decorative Antiques is a specialist shop selling Art Deco items, jewellery, glassware and pottery. The business relies on internet links for selling and sourcing. Richard and Evelyn Moulson have an image-based website which is updated two or three times a week. Broadband has more than halved the time spent renewing stock images. "Before, you'd send a photo up and wait while the drop-down box filled slowly up, whistle a bit and twiddle your thumbs. Now they go like a flash. It's great," said Richard www.decorative-antiques.co.uk

Bishop's Castle Broadband Collective Tel: 07866 465342 (BCBC support mobile) Email: info@bishopscastlebroadband.co.uk Web: www.broadbandcollective.co.uk www.bishopscastlebroadband.co.uk

Switch on Shropshire for Business is provided through the advice and guidance of the Business Link ICT Team

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