In May 2003, 3-C was just an idea. By the end of September, we had nearly 300 members and by the middle of October we're already the main supplier of broadband to the Hebden Bridge area.

3-C grew from the need for broadband in Hebden Bridge and the Calder Valley exchange areas, and the realization we were in danger of being left behind in the technical possibilities offered by the new technology. We wanted to put our area back at the forefront of digital developments.

In March 2002, the Hebden Bridge Web started its campaign for broadband, including an online forum. Extensive informed discussion on this forum revealed that there was very wide concern at the lack of fast Internet access.

Our area hadn't even got a trigger level, and yet neighbouring Todmorden was given broadband access in the Autumn 2002 with a trigger level of just 200 registrations. Well done Tod, but why Tod and not the Hebden Bridge and Calder Valley exchanges as well?

Hebden Bridge has been at the forefront of taking advantage of the new technology and boasts the first community website in the country. The local hills are full of people running small businesses from home. Just how many hundreds we didn't quite know at this stage.

On Monday, 9th December over 30 people attended a public meeting called by the local NUJ to discuss the lack of broadband availability. The meeting was held in the upstairs room of the Stubbings Wharf and the three speakers were Chris Ratcliffe (Hebden Bridge Web), Steve Morgan (freelance photographer) and Guy Ohlenschlager (Poptel internet service provider). Lively discussion took place around all aspects of broadband provision, including wireless. People left the meeting determined to pressure BT and local politicians. More importantly, a group of people started to get to know each other who would become the core group to start 3-C.

In the early part of 2003, there was still no sign of even having a trigger level for our local exchanges. Locally based consultant Mark Harrison was commissioned by the Hebden Bridge Web to deliver a profile of the way in which Hebden Bridge would benefit from broadband technology. From the results, one fact stood out. There are literally hundreds of people running businesses from home in Hebden Bridge and the surrounding hills and valleys.

Another consequence of the survey was that the Hebden Bridge Web was contacted by BT Yorkshire Regional Manager, Trevor Higgins who came to Hebden Bridge to meet Mark Harrison, and Chris Ratcliffe of the HebWeb. He needed little convincing of the fact that our area needed broadband and promised to argue our case.

On 4th May, Anne Handley, the co-ordinator of the local home workers' group, decided to focus the monthly lunchtime meeting on the lack of broadband. The meeting was attended by a group of industry professionals, business people, homeworkers and enthusiastic individuals who wanted better Internet connection.

By a remarkable coincidence, during that meeting the news came though that the trigger level for the Hebden Bridge exchange had just been lowered from 500 to 300 - meaning that the campaign for Hebden Bridge had been successful.

The campaign for broadband for the Calder Valley exchange - still without a trigger level - would continue. This would be led by Frances Robinson of the Mytholmroyd Net, and helped by Calder Valley Broadband.

The people attending the homeworkers' meeting decided to call a public meeting with the intention of setting up our own community ISP.

On 21st of May, Mark Harrison gave a presentation to a packed public meeting at the Tourist Information Centre describing plans for a community Internet Service Provider serving the whole of the Upper Calder Valley.

Throughout the summer, a core team - with subgroups - worked hard at putting into shape plans for creating what is now Calder Connect Co-operative or 3-C. We decided upon a co-operative structure as we wanted to put any profit back into the organization to keep prices down. And it seemed to fit in with the long history of co-ops in the area.

At the same time, the campaign for the Calder Valley exchange continued. On 10th July BT finally gave the exchange a trigger level, disappointingly high at 500. 3-C held a public meeting in Mytholmroyd on 22nd July and a wireless demonstration at Mytholmroyd Gala.

In September, we made the decision to ally with Poptel which has a long background in supporting co-operative ventures, and was also able to offer the wireless dimension we really needed.

On 6th October, we started connecting our members to broadband, and the next day the news came through that the Calder Valley exchange had been triggered.

3-C is already the largest supplier of broadband to our area. On 16th October our first wireless connections will be made.

The Calder Connect Cooperative (3-C) was formed from the groups of people active in campaigning for broadband in the Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd areas. We realised that BT and other ISPs did not really care about their potential customers in this area. We could provide a much better service ourselves. And make sure that we would be first to receive future developments in digital technology - not the last!