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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-GB link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Dear RIPE,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you for the opportunity to input to the consultation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We would be strongly in favour of <b>model 2</b> for the following reasons:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We are a small, non-profit-making provider of fibre broadband to a rural community.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We fill an essential gap, as communities like ours tend to get left behind in the rollout of FTTH by the major suppliers.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We have only a small core team, so are not able to take advantage of the ancillary benefits that RIPE offers, such as training schemes and conferences.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The cost of model 1 would represent about 3% of our turnover, which is a significant element in our cost scheme, and a barrier to attracting new subscribers.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope you will give this due consideration: model 2.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kind regards,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dr Paul Newton<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>F4RN<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>