1. We need to drill down a further layer to find out why the correlation between distance and speed is imperfect. We agreed to do that by asking local clusters of users to monitor speeds.

Action: Phil and Ben will do Badswell Lane; Ian, Richard and Lee will do Netherton Road; Bernard will do the town end of Eaton Road and Keith the further end; David will do Eaton. The goal is to see if there is any explanation of variation of speed connected with different local cabling arrangements. We agree to get results back before our next meeting (June 9th, Plough, 7.30). If the data returns show that there is good reason to think local cabling on the ground is causing speed variations, we will go back to BT with our results and apply pressure for remedial action on a case by case basis until the issues are resolved.

2.We agree that even if we could address all the local cabling wrinkles, the fundamental problem of inadequate speed will remain. We discussed at length solutions that would bring major enhancement of speed. In essence we identified two possible solutions:

a. BT updates the main cable to the village, but we already know that it assesses the cost at £324k, and says it is uneconomic. We discussed putting coordinated pressure on BT, but while we are not completely certain of BT's service obligations to us, we do not believe they extend to more than what is already being provided, and we are doubtful we would be successful A mass switch away from BT line rental was discussed, but seemed to be unfeasible. We wondered about an aerial cable upgrade (much cheaper than underground), and did not rule it out but we need more information about practicality. We discussed what a cable upgrade would deliver if it were installed, and agreed we were uncertain.

Action: David to contact Dan Moss for clarification, and also about the likelihood of a Cumnor exchange upgrade, and what it would deliver in terms of extra speed to Appleton - again we were uncertain of the technical issues.

b. We returned to the question of cooperation in use of the school's fibre-optic cable. We agree we need to probe further. Action: Phil to talk to the community link committee of the school governors; Joyce to complete exploration at local education authority level. Both to report ahead of next meeting.

If we could make use of the cable, we need to explore two possibilities: an Appleton micro-exchange from the school line, linking in to existing village cabling; or a local distribution network, managed by a "Northlew" style solution, and using a microwave relay system. We need more information about the technical issues for the former, and we are pretty doubtful we could ever deliver the latter: too many practical issues - who takes on the commercial enterprise? what would take-up rates be now that we have a minimal broadband service available?

Other action: Phil to report ot the Annual parish Meting. David to contact Dan Moss of MT for clarification of what level of service we would get if the cable from Cumnor were updated, even if that updating looks unfeasible. David will also eventually get back to Dan Moss with the results of our further speed researches.