House of Lords to investigate fibre broadband strategy

The government's fibre optic broadband strategy is set to be investigated by the House of Lords.

Under its ongoing broadband plans, the Conservative-led coalition is aiming to deliver the best super-fast network in Europe by 2015 and the Lords Communications Committee wants to find out more about the thinking behind these proposals.

Among the issues that will be investigated by the committee are whether the state aid is being used effectively to achieve the maximum economic and social benefits, and if speed is the best way of measuring the goals of the broadband strategy.

Lord Inglewood, chairman of the Communications Committee, said: "We want to look into the government's proposals to find out if its targets are likely to be met and whether it is being ambitious enough in its plans."

Earlier this month, the coalition came in for criticism after it emerged that more than £1 million of the cash set aside to improve broadband coverage will be spent on various legal costs.