@ Weaver,
Indeed anybody can become a shareholder in the closed company.
I am their first, and millionth, shareholder and I am delighted to help up there whenever I can escape from darkest Surrey.
Because the Community Interest Company is a Government-approved EIS company any contributor is immediately rewarded by HMRC with a 30% tax rebate.
The shares can be redeemed only by B4RN themselves after 3 years when the whole amount at face value is returned.
That is an absolutely vital part of their constitution as otherwise the behemoth would have bought them out perhaps on day two !
Alternatively shares are rewarded with 5% p.a. compound interest, although that figure might be reduced depending upon the economic situation.
B4RN do also accept loans.
As it is, Local Authorities have, up to now, subsidised the behemoth to part-overbuild the B4RN network with seriously sub-standard meagre asymmetric services but I suspect that policy might well change.
Another important point is that the entire B4RN network is built with true point-to-point fibre.
That is why the original fully future-proof design**, unlimited by the monopolistic constrictions of exchange-based shared GPON, has "exploded" from a mere 8 parishes now to well over 50.
** Industry standard CWDM and DWDM (Coarse Wavelength and Dense Wavelength Digital Multiplexing) techniques provide almost limitless expansion capabilities.
B4RN are quite open about their designs which are not very complicated and do not involve any interconnection with telephone exchange switches (VOIP doesn't need a conventional exchange).
Their major success is due to their civil engineering approach often using semi-retired volunteers.
Those, mainly farmers, burying over 1 km of blown fibre tube are paid in shares for the work at £1.50 / m.
Fibre tube can be buried in sections as agricultural requirements dictate.
(You won't find much work going on during the lambing season either ! )
Only once a route is completed is the fibre cable purchased and installed.
B4RN (Together with Emtelle, their fibre suppliers) hold a few free "Show-Tell" days every year where anybody can see how their DIY network is being built but you must come with a good coat and wellies or walking boots.
Kind regards,
Walter
