A new Community WiFi Scheme enabling village halls, community centres
and other community hubs to connect to superfast broadband was launched
recently at the RCCE Village Halls & Community Buildings Conference.Set up by Superfast Essex and ECC's Community Initiatives Fund, the Community WiFi Scheme enables local communities to provide a public WiFi service via their community hub.
A community hub is a community facility such as a village hall, community centre, parish hall or similar, run as a charity or on a not-for-profit basis that is available to use and hire in a particular area for community related recreational activities.
Community hub committees can apply to the Community Initiatives Fund for the set-up costs of a WiFi service as offered by the two operators under this scheme. Up to £400 can be claimed per community hub. Application forms for the Community WiFi Scheme can be found on the ECC website: http://www.essex.gov.uk/Business-Partners/Partners/Pages/Community-Initiatives-Fund.aspx or the Superfast Essex Broadband website: http://www.superfastessex.org/en-us/communitywifischeme.aspx.
Hall committees can buy a broadband service from APC Solutions or County Broadband who are approved suppliers under the Scheme.
RCCE was delighted the Scheme was launched at the Village Halls & Community Buildings Conference. As a member of the Community Engagement Team with Superfast Essex, RCCE has helped to develop this Scheme.
Community WiFi scheme brochure Oct 2016.pdf
