Re: Bumpkin
Ultimately Ofcom have absolutely no clue how to affect rural broadband or to properly regulate the broadband market.
I was particularly vocal about them in 2011 when they claimed (copy here - http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2011/07/20/better-value-rural-broadband/):
***Millions of homes and businesses in rural parts of the UK could receive better value broadband services by the end of this year***
Which related to an enforced 12% reduction in wholesale prices in rural regions.
I stated that the wholesale price wouldn't reduce the overall cost for ISPs to deliver broadband by more than about 2%, and that this would not result in a reduction in broadband prices for consumers.
It didn't - it hasn't - and as is attested elsewhere in the comments here - broadband prices in rural communities remain higher than in urban areas - despite speeds being slower overall.
Ofcom making this claim has more to do with their own continued justification of existing than anything to do with narrowing the gap between the haves and have nots.
At the time I asked whether they were clueless, witless or toothless - the answer remains a personal choice.