Why can't we bid for ultra-fast broadband?

Brighton & Hove has a massive concentration of award winning web designers, developers, digital marketers, SEO specialists and a whole pool of creative people.

There are over 1000 digital companies, agencies and freelancers here. It is estimated that over 10,000 talented people are employed in the digital industry in the city. We're renowned for is being a pioneer in the computer gaming industry.

So... why can't we bid for ultra-fast broadband funding – £100 million of which will be made available to bidding from 14 UK cities?

The list, from Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, includes London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast along with the largest 10 of the other cities in the UK. They are allowed to bid for the £100 million.

But not us, despite the fact that we are a unique and crucial media hot-spot, and with 125,000 dwellings, we come very close to the 150,000 dwelling cut-off point.

We're going to lose out, and we can't afford to....