A broadband crusader from Grimsby has
been presented with the Local Campaigner award at the
national finals of the Broadband Britain Challenge held
in London on Friday, September 12, 2003.
Pete Berry set
up the Broadband4Grimsby campaign group and has been
working for two years to get his local exchange enabled.
His efforts were rewarded as the exchange for Grimsby
went live on August 20, 2003. Pete has also successfully
campaigned for DSL broadband in Cleethorpes and Barton
upon Humber.
He is currently campaigning for another
14 exchanges around his local area and hopes to get DSL
broadband in the whole of Southbank & Humber and
Northern Lincolnshire.
Three challengers (runners up) were also recognised for
their dedication in campaigning for broadband in their
local areas. They are:
• George Hill – for his work with Broadband Banwell campaign group
• Colin Davenport – for his work with Broadband for Shildon
• Les Cashin - for her work with The Peebles Broadband Action Group.
The Broadband Britain Challenge, supported by BT, sets
out to find local people who are championing the most
innovative and advanced use of DSL broadband so that
they can inspire others, whether at home, work, education
or at leisure. The local campaigner category was set
up to award people who are going that extra mile to get
DSL broadband in their area.
The winners received their accolades at a VIP awards
ceremony held at London’s
Royal Horticultural Halls, hosted by TV presenter Paul Ross. Pete Berry accepted
his award from Local Campaigner judge, Howard Lake of Fundraising UK Limited.
When Pete decided to start up his own website, dinner450.com,
two years ago, the frustration of a dial up internet
connection prompted him to campaign for
his local DSL broadband exchange to be enabled. By setting up a website specifically
to highlight the benefits of DSL broadband, Pete was able to promote DSL broadband
to local people and track registrations of interest. The Grimsby exchange was
enabled on August 20, 2003.
Pete comments, "The aim of my campaign was to get the community more involved
with modern technologies and its benefits. The only way to get DSL broadband
noticed more in my area, was to campaign for all the exchanges and not just
my own."
Philippa Winterburn, head of broadband marketing at BT
Wholesale said, “Local
broadband campaigners have played a huge part in the success of the trigger
scheme and we’ll continue to work with local people to promote the great
benefits DSL broadband can bring to businesses and communities.
DSL broadband usage in Britain has now passed the 1.25 million mark and we’re
working as fast as we can to bring this new technology to as many people as
possible. We hope that the stories of the champions in this Challenge will
encourage others to experience the variety of resources now available through
DSL broadband."
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