Suffolk and Oldham families first to benefit from broadband scheme

Suffolk and Oldham residents will be the first to benefit from the Prime Minister's scheme to provide broadband for disadvantaged families.

The £300m Broadband for All scheme aims to give every family member, aged between five and 19, home access by 2011. According to the Government, around a million children do not have access to broadband at home.

Families on low incomes will receive grants, which will be funded by the Department of Children, Schools and families (DCSF). Although the amounts available have not yet been specified, the DCSF said around 20,000 youngsters in Suffolk and Oldham would benefit from the scheme from February.

Families qualifying for the full package would be those on incomes of less than £15,500 or on benefits such as Income Support or Job Seekers' Allowance.

Jim Knight, schools minister, said: “Many families are having to tighten their belts in the current economic climate – so it is right that we help those that need the most support. We cannot let this reinforce social and academic divides and put children in low income families at a further disadvantage.”

"The bottom line is that having home access to the internet or a computer is no longer an optional extra for school work – it is fast becoming essential,” he added.

As part of the scheme, PC manufacturers will also be invited to submit equipment packages that will be tested for "educational and technical quality" by the Government agency, Becta.

Approved equipment will be labelled with the Next Generation Learning@Home logo. A representative for the agency said: "If people go into a shop and see approved equipment, it should help families and students choose products that are suitable.”

The scheme will go nationwide in autumn 2009.