RURAL BROADBAND

That this House believes that mobile broadband has an important role to play in delivering internet access to rural communities; welcomes the action taken by the Rural Broadband Working Group, consisting of Three, Race Online and the Countryside Alliance, to identify areas in the UK that are poorly served by fixed broadband and to provide them with free mobile broadband access; notes that rural mobilebroadband coverage can be improved further by a timely and competitive spectrum auction that provides equitable access to low frequency spectrum following liberalisation of the 900 MHz spectrum; is concerned by reports that the 4G spectrum auction is to be delayed; and calls on the Government to support Ofcom in ensuring that the auction takes place next year as planned.