Munich (dpa/lby) - After the funding pots of a federal program to expand fast internet in rural areas were completely emptied, the federal government presented a new key issues paper, according to Bavaria's Finance Minister Albert Füracker (CSU). Details are still being agreed, but there is agreement with the federal states on a basic concept. According to this, city-states and non-city states should be able to access federal funding for the so-called gigabyte expansion in different ways in the future.
The program was originally created to eliminate white spots in the country's Internet supply. The funding was so successful that the funds were exhausted in the fall - no more money flowed into the municipalities. "The sudden stop in funding in the fall without any prior warning was a severe blow for all municipalities. Instead of providing planning security, the federal government sowed uncertainty and ultimately held the communities out for months," criticized Füracker.
After tough but constructive negotiations, the federal government is now taking account of the needs of rural areas again, said Füracker. "The gigabit expansion is crucial for the future, especially in rural areas, and must be supported as best as possible," emphasized the minister.
A so-called fast lane is now being introduced, for example, with the help of which particularly disadvantaged areas can access funding more quickly. However, only very few areas benefited from this. However, Füracker complained that this puts areas at a disadvantage that had already been expanded rapidly in the past. "The Free State and the municipalities, which have already achieved a solid basic supply for the Bavarian citizens through their good work, are now being punished for it," complained the CSU politician. "When it comes to fiber optic expansion, every project should actually be accelerated as much as possible."
