Schools Closer To Super-Highway Link-Up

The prospects of pupils enjoying cheap and unlimited access to the internet moved a step closer after BT matched proposals from cable companies to link up schools to the Internet. Labour spokesmen said the move as a first step towards Tony Blair's objective of linking all schools to the information super-highway.

The Prime Minister claimed in his party conference speech in 1995 that he had clinched a deal with BT to link up schools. Mr Blair came under fire immediately from the then President of the Board of Trade Ian Lang who claimed no such deal had been struck. Former Tory chairman Lord Tebbit, then a BT director, undercut Mr Lang by suggesting a deal was on the cards.

A Labour Party spokeswoman said: "We are showing that within only a few weeks of taking office, we have moved on this issue."

OFTEL director-general Don Cruickshank set up a task force in June of last year to help set up systems to hook schools up to high speed networks and use the Internet at affordable rates. The cable industry responded by introducing a special schools package which would mean schools enjoying unlimited access to the Internet for £1 per pupil per year.

Mr Cruickshank then wrote to BT in December urging them to respond to the needs identified by the task force. BT have now come forward with similar proposals. Mr Cruickshank said: "This is good news for schools. We are in active discussion with BT." But he stressed there was a need for further and wide consultation in order to ensure that schools have a real choice of service provider, costs are predictable and affordable and to ensure that all schools can become involved.