Regions for Better Broadband connection
B3 Regions aims to improve the effectiveness of regional development policies in the Information Society area, by optimising the expert partners' good practices (mainly achieved through Structural Funds Plans 2000-2006) that are related to broadband implementation in disadvantaged areas.
This capitalisation process will be achieved thanks to two main activites:
1. A transfer process which aims to share and structure in a harmonised way all the Broadband experiences around specific sub-themes (such as demand aggregation, state aid regulation) and that, through  a specific Action Plan Support Tool will help the Managing Authorities involved to develop  strategic action plans through Operational Programmes (OPs) 2007-2013.
2. A dissemination process that will spread the benefits achieved among the consortium to external stakeholders and that will particularly target Managing authorities and ICT agencies willing to implement successful Broadband strategies through structural funds.
The consortium represents 8 different Member States: 4 old MS (Italy, United Kingdom, Greece, and Spain) and 4 new MS (Poland, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Hungary). Among the partners there are 8 Regional Managing Authorities (MAs), 5 ICT implementing Agencies, 1 Local authority and 2 ICT University Departments. The partnership composition reflects the willingness of matching less experienced with more advanced regions with regard to Broadband implementation through Structural Funds in remote and rural areas. Moreover all the Managing authorities involved have already foreseen Broadband projects in their Operational Programme 2007-2013 and will proceed to their planning phases supported by B3 Regions results.
After its 24 months duration, B3 Regions will contribute to economic modernisation and increased competitiveness of Europe by having enabled the exchange of experience in a strategic domain of the regional development policy (the Information Society), thus having ensured that the identified good practices have been transferred into mainstream programmes.