It is positive to note some communication is finally forthcoming judging the recent postings on the CBN and INCA websites.

In direct response to those postings:

It is interesting to note that http://www.broadband.coop/About-CBN/ misleadingly states that “CBN is a co-operative of community-run independent broadband operators”

I actually resigned from the board of CBN in January 2009, when, after three years of voluntary and unpaid effort to help steer CBN back to fulfil its original and publicly-funded remit to be a broad membership-based community broadband cooperative, it became apparent that certain colleagues on the board had no intention for CBN to ever get back on track and instead wanted to repurpose CBN into a directors consultancy for commercial gain.

The home page of the CBN website recently offered 4 statements in reply to the Noble Lord Laird’s PQs that raise yet more questions regarding Public Funding, for both CBN and the Interim Board of INCA to answer:

1. “CBN has submitted all its accounts as required by the FSA (as a cooperative society, CBN is regulated by the FSA rather than Companies House).”

Please may we have the dates of submission of all CBN accounts and copy of all exchanges of correspondence for each years submissions to the FSA? The itemised income and expenditure for each year since formation and the monies received for all consultancies in each year.

2. “There is no on-going investigation by the FSA into CBN. ”

Has there been any investigation by the FSA into CBN? If so, why?

3. “CBN has not been in receipt of public funds since 2004 so it’s unclear what the National Audit Office might investigate were they to
respond to Lord Laird’s request. Two of the principal recipients of funds under the original funding programme were the authors of the
above blogs.”

Concerning the receipt of Public Funds by:

Note re CBN – in the case of some monies paid out to individuals, I know I received some £500 for a day in 2005 providing mentoring to a community broadband network.

a) CBN – Which organisations and which individuals were the PRINCIPAL recipients of the £250,000 of public funds paid to CBN in the calendar years 2004, 2005 & 2006?

b) INCA – Please provide for public scrutiny, what monies are proposed to be paid to CBN for the formation of INCA

c) INCA – Please make public or otherwise explain why the KPI (Key Performance Indicators) for INCA taxpayer-funding are being treated as Commercial in Confidence?

d) INCA – What was the Public Procurement process for this apparently commercial relationship, as required to demonstrate best value for Taxpayers money?

e) INCA – are there any monies that may be owing to CBN by INCA at the current time?

4. “CBN is undertaking some work for the newly formed INCA which does have Government support. This assistance during the foundation of INCA
is open to scrutiny and is being done with the knowledge of the relevant civil servants in the Department for Innovation Business and Skills.”

Please name the civil servant(s) within BIS and any other Government departments responsible for overseeing, or in ownership of the affairs of INCA and CBN’s activity. How long have each been in supervisory or other roles in connection with either CBN or INCA?

BIG PICTURE – The 4th Utility is a serious matter for the future well-being and prosperity of consumers, present and future – as such everyone’s best efforts are required to achieve this common good.

The clear deliverables of the Digital Britain report where INCA and most importantly BDUK are concerned remain laudable and of real value to the Public Purse

By the responsible people in CBN and on the current INCA Interim Board stepping up, being open and transparent in answering the above questions then all of us as consumers with a genuine interest in Putting People First in the Final Third First can move forwards to create a World-Leading Communications Infrastructure to be proud of.