eircom wholesale "FibrePower Your Community" competition

The Cush

Eircom wholesale has launched a competition for rural communities in the 20% NBP intervention areas. The plan is to invest €250,000 in a rural community, who will not be served by a commercial operator, rolling out fibre to the home in the winning area. The winner will be announced at the end of September.

Details here - http://fibrerollout.ie/competition/

Discussed on RTÉ Radio 1's CountryWide programme Sat morning - http://podcast.rasset.ie/podcasts/audio/2015/0627/20150627_rteradio1-countrywide-fibreupmyc_c20803638_20803645_232_drm_/20150627_rteradio1-countrywide-fibreupmyc_c20803638_20803645_232_drm_.mp3

‘Have Your Say’ and get your community connected at no cost by simply telling eircom why your community should be the next eircom Wholesale Fibre to the Home trial.

Steps to entry

1. Check that their area is in the intervention footprint at www.broadband.gov.ie

What is the intervention footprint? The Government has requested from Commercial operators a view of where they will deploy their commercial network. The areas outside a commercial deployment plan will be part of the intervention footprint. On the broadband.gov.ie website communities will be able to view a map that highlights areas within a commercial footprint and those within the intervention footprint. Blue equals a commercial deployment – and amber equals the NBP /Intervention footprint area.
In addition to the map, the site also lists by county, areas that are within the intervention footprint and commercial footprint.

2. View the competition checklist

This is a community effort. This is not something an individual in the community can do you on their own; they will need to involve their neighbours, business leaders, TDs etc.. They will need to identify what information needs to be gathered and see who within the community is best placed to collect, collate and prepare the submission..

3.Print off the application form

The communities need to print of the application form so they can see how long it will take and ensure they collate all of the information needed.
As there is quite a bit of work required, the web site allows each community signal their intent, which will ensure eircom knows their application is a work in progress and also allows eircom advise the community on number of entries already received from their county.

Next step after intent.

4. Discuss application details with community members

Communities need to discuss the application form with the relevant community members, and identify the real benefits they will gain from having access to a high speed broadband network

5. Find your spokesperson

Each community must identify one spokesperson, someone who can be relied upon to rally the troops and who can answer any queries the judging panel might have. This may well be the same person who will represent the community should the judging panel have queries, if not please identify who will be responsible for what action within the community council.

6. Get creative

There will be huge interest in this competition and eircom expect many entrants , how will your community stand out from all the rest – get creative and demonstrate what an infrastructure like high speed broadband could do for your community.

7. Submit your entry via post

a. FibrePower Your Community, eircom Wholesale, 1 Heuston South Quarter, St. Johns Road, Dublin 8.
b. or online at www.fibrerollout.ie
On or before the 15th September 2015.

Entries will be accessed by an independent judging panel
Carolan Lennon MD of eircom Wholesale
AJ Noonan Chairman of Small Firms Association
Tim O Leary Deputy President of IFA
Ann O Dea Co-founder of Silicon Republic
Mairead Lavery Editor Farmers Journal