Stephen Cadogan: Bridging the broadband gap fast becoming a human right

Of all the commitments in the programme for a partnership government, rural dwellers will reserve the biggest pinch of salt for the promise to bring next generation broadband to every house and business in the country by 2020.

However, it might be more credible if the example of the UK government was followed, making a commitment last week to give every household the legal right to access high-speed broadband.

The British government is expected to enforce a minimum speed of 10 megabits per second (Mbits/sec) as an initial figure, with powers to direct Ofcom, the communications regulator in the UK, to review this over time.