Abstract

Superfast broadband is theorised to enhance individual and community wellbeing, and yet rural areas in the UK remain underserved. In response, national strategies, such as Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), seek to reduce the gap in broadband infrastructure. Complementing these are community-led broadband organisations; rural communities working voluntarily to remedy their limited broadband supply and stimulate rural broadband development, enabling the creation of wellbeing through digital access. Their inclusion as part of wider superfast broadband deployment strategies has not been examined nor is it well-understood. Reflecting on qualitative interview data collected through the lifecycle of two community-led broadband initiatives, this paper contributes evidence-based discussion on the UK digital agenda and related policy mechanisms and their complex influence on community-led alternatives to rural broadband development.