A BRIDPORT action group is launching a campaign to bring broadband internet to the town, and it wants to hear from anyone who uses the net at home or at work.

Digital media arts group PVA and Coun Charles Wild have joined forces to launch the campaign, which they say will help attract more businesses to Bridport.

Simon Poulter of PVA said: Broadband will put the town in the economic fast lane, giving domestic and business users better access to the internet.

Broadband internet enables a computer to be constantly connected to the internet at very fast speeds and is recognised nationally as a key tool in commercial and economic development.

At the moment there are two options which the group is researching. These include: ,,h a plan to introduce wireless internet along the coast from Portland and then up into the outlying towns and villages in Dorset and Somerset

,,h installation of ADSL technology which would require an upgrade of the existing telephone exchange in Bridport by BT.

Nationally, BT has been criticised for not rolling out broadband to the rural areas, although both Weymouth and Dorchester now have ADSL exchanges. Wireless internet offers much higher connection speeds and can often be a way of getting bandwidth into extremely isolated areas.

The campaigners are initially seeking to hear from local business and domestic internet users to gauge the level of demand. This would then enable them to explore the various options available and lobby BT.

Charles Wild, Bridport town and West Dorset district councillor, said: "We want to hear from anyone who has either a business or domestic need for faster internet access. If we can get more than 400 expressions of interest then we would be able to take this to BT and move things along."

Simon Poulter added: "We need broadband in Bridport as a part of the overall development plan for the town. Businesses will be much more inclined to locate in the town if we have broadband. Essentially, the costs for ADSL are not much higher than a standard dial up account. I am also keen to see progress with wireless internet as this could be done quickly and cheaply."

The campaigners are asking interested parties to either write to them at Broadband For Bridport, c/o PVA MediaLab, 51 East Street, Bridport or to log on at /www.pva.org.uk/broadband">www.pva.org.uk/broadband