Rural homes and businesses across the county will continue to be able to access a Government scheme to help them access faster internet connections. The national scheme is aimed at the hardest to reach areas of the country which are not able to access superfast broadband because of their location. The scheme allows householders and business owners to claim up to £400 towards the cost of installing technology to get faster internet speeds. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has confirmed that the deadline for applying to the Better Broadband Scheme has been extended until the end of 2019. Although much of Worcestershire has access to superfast fibre connections, some very rural areas are still difficult to reach as part of the county council’s broadband roll out plan. The voucher scheme was welcomed by West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin, who has been lobbying at a local and national level to secure the best possible connection for every household. Harriett commented: “There still a number of smaller rural communities who still suffer from very slow internet connections and I keep working with them, the county council and Government experts to find the optimal solution. “There are a number of subsidies which rural communities can access and even the smallest and more rural areas can club together to access a variety of sources of Government support. “I hope that any community that is still unclear about how to access these funds can visit the Worcestershire County Council’s dedicated website – www.superfastworcestershire.com – to get expert advice and support. “As we develop the best possible mobile 4G coverage and test 5G in Malvern, it is critical that we don’t forget the very rural communities that still have to cope with poor and unstable connections.”