broadband champions

Broadband Champion Network helped bring broadband to over 99% of Sussex by demonstrating demand at a local level and triggering targets set by BT.

Sedlescombe's broadband champion

The successful Broadband Campaign in Sedlescombe was run by our youngest champion, 15 year old Jeff Mainwood:
"My quest for bringing broadband to Sedlescombe began just over a year ago, with 42 pre-registrations and no trigger level.

I reached 100 registrations by handing out leaflets for Eclipse, an ISP who also gave me a mini-website to encourage people to register. This looked very professional and was easy to use. BT then gave me 1000 pink leaflets and stickers. A campaigner in Cornwall helped design bb4sedlescombe.co.uk in October 2003.

I put registrations I collected into a database so I could give away an Xbox game console donated by BT Wholesale. The campaign made it to the local press and Sedlescombe's Parish News made it to the internal newspaper of BT, BT Today.In November I was given a trigger level of 200. I already had 101 pre-registrations. 99 to go!

I got about 70 more registrations by standing in my local shop and post office. I went to Sedlescombe School's Christmas Fair and got another 20. I spoke in Parish Council meetings and have had support from the Parish Council.

I reached the trigger level in February but had to wait 59 days for my RFS date. The day after I got the RFS date, BT invited me and 59 other UK broadband campaigners to the broadband showcase at the BT Centre and afterwards to the BT Tower.

My local MP, Greg Barker came to Sedlescombe to give away the Xbox to one of the people who registered their interest. Registering was free and had no contract attached that you had to buy broadband when it came available.

The Sedlescombe exchange went live on 11th August 2004, when we were all able to get ADSL Broadband."