As published by BBC News

Telecoms companies must work together to resolve issues around shared use of existing broadband cabling following widespread anger at the installation of telegraph poles, an MP has said.

Residents across East Yorkshire have been upset by firms installing poles near their homes.

David Davis, MP for Haltemprice and Howden, said those companies blamed KCOM – the area’s main telecoms provider – for being obstructive.

KCOM strongly refuted the claims.

Connexin, a company responsible for installing poles across East Yorkshire, confirmed it was talking with KCOM, while another operator MS3 Networks said it was “in dialogue” with regulator Ofcom.

Mr Davis said people should have access to “a competitive and fair broadband market” without neighbourhoods “being littered with an unsightly mess of unnecessary street furniture”.

He said the law allowed companies to share existing infrastructure, thus preventing disruption, but “would-be new entrants” to the area’s broadband market had told him they faced “obstacle after obstacle”.

Mr Davis said firms had told him KCOM had put in place “prohibitive pricing mechanisms” for the use of existing infrastructure, such as underground cables. KCOM was also accused of “procrastination and delay” in the matter, the MP added.

Connexin, a company responsible for installing poles across East Yorkshire, confirmed it was talking with KCOM, while another operator MS3 Networks said it was “in dialogue” with regulator Ofcom.

Mr Davis said people should have access to “a competitive and fair broadband market” without neighbourhoods “being littered with an unsightly mess of unnecessary street furniture”.

He said the law allowed companies to share existing infrastructure, thus preventing disruption, but “would-be new entrants” to the area’s broadband market had told him they faced “obstacle after obstacle”.

Mr Davis said firms had told him KCOM had put in place “prohibitive pricing mechanisms” for the use of existing infrastructure, such as underground cables. KCOM was also accused of “procrastination and delay” in the matter, the MP added.

Companies unhappy with KCOM should complain to them and then escalate to Ofcom, the regulator said.

According to Ofcom, “at least one provider” had already engaged with KCOM, with that company indicating it would raise a dispute if access to the infrastructure was not provided.

What do KCOM’s rivals say?
Guy Miller, chief executive of MS3 Networks, which is currently installing poles in Hedon, said: “While it is important to inform the public on the reasons for our choice to erect our own poles, the situation is complex.

“MS3 can confirm that we are in dialogue with Ofcom about potentially raising a dispute against KCOM’s infrastructure sharing policy.”

Hugh Davies, from Connexin, said the company had “applied to KCOM for clarity on pricing and access to their infrastructure”.

He insisted the company was “going underground in Hull, and much of the East Riding, where we can”.

However, he added: “Where there is no underground ducting available at all, or where we have not been able to access KCOM’s infrastructure, we have the choice between digging new ducts or using poles.

“Digging is not easy as there are already many utilities embedded in our streets. Often it is safer, more environmentally sustainable and less disruptive to use poles. A lot of KCOM’s network also uses poles.”

Mr Davies said he understood concerns but said: “Everyone wants faster broadband at more competitive prices and poles are often the most effective way of delivering it.”

David Davis MP calls on broadband companies to end poles row,

The opposition of David Davis to new snooping laws reminds us he’s a rare beast: a Tory with principles.

On emergency communications data legislation, Kevin Maguire, The Daily Mirror

David Davis, a rightwing Tory who would not exactly have been to my tastes in days of yore, whose crusade against the erosion of liberties should mark him out as one of the political heroes of the age.

Mass surveillance, Mass surveillance, Marina Hyde, The Guardian

MPs and local council representatives from across the region met today to discuss plans to improve flood defences in the Humber Estuary. A presentation on the progress of the Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy was given by the Environment Agency.

The Environment Agency has recently been updating its flood strategy for the Humber.

The meeting gave MPs and councillors an opportunity to ask the Environment Agency’s project leaders questions about the future of the strategy and what was needed to get the strategy implemented. Delays to the update of the strategy were caused by the tidal surge in December, which provided the Environment Agency with key information on the Humber’s defences.

Speaking after the meeting David Davis said:

“This meeting has given everyone a better idea of where we stand with the advancement of the Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy. The tidal surge in December confirmed that many of the Humber’s flood defences aren’t up to scratch which is why it is imperative that we secure the funding for the updated strategy as soon as possible.

We discussed in some detail what we could do to get the best deal in providing flood defences for all our constituents.

The meeting proved to be incredibly beneficial and I am optimistic of getting the strategy implemented.”

David Davis MP comments on meeting regarding plans to improve flood defences in the Humber Estuary,

After the Care Quality Commission’s State of Care Report 2012/2013 highlighted the need for improvement at Castle Hill Hospital and the Goole and District Hospital, the Rt Hon David Davis MP has said:
“This report is deeply troubling. Both hospitals have failed to meet the standards expected by the Care Quality Commission. The fact that both have scored 4/5 overall should not be allowed to mask the shortcomings identified by the regulator.

Castle Hill hospital must address its poor record-keeping practices and medicine storage problems. Likewise Goole and District hospital must eliminate significant gaps in their staff training. These are exactly the type of preventable errors which can lead to accidents and even needless deaths. For the sake of patient safety, standards must improve.

It is vital that the management teams at both hospitals take the CQC criticism in the right spirit. They should see the State of Care report not as an inconvenience, but as a blueprint for future improvements which will benefit patients and staff alike.”

David Davis MP comments on report calling for improvement at Castle Hill, Goole and District hospitals,