A remote west Highland community claims poor broadband connections are stopping businesses from setting up in the area.
Residents also claim the issue is preventing people from selling their houses in the Ardnamurchan area of Lochaber – and causing potential visitors to cancel holiday lets.
Superfast broadband is due to go live around Ardnamurchan some time in 2016, but the current proposal will do nothing to improve the service for more remote areas.
Locals are now gathering evidence for a campaign to get more sparsely populated locations included.
Dave Kime, of Glenborrodale, said there was a huge difference in download speeds between homes close to the Kilchoan exchange and places such as Achosnich and Glenborrodale.
He said there was no broadband on the north coast of the peninsula, where householders have to pay for expensive satellite connections, and these areas would not benefit from the upgrade.
Mr Kime said: “We are aware of six small businesses that want to come here but cannot due to the broadband situation.
“There is also evidence of house sales falling through and visitors are canceling holiday cottage lets.
“Web speeds are too slow for streaming videos, watching YouTube and using Skype to keep in contact with family. They are also far too slow to allow business use.”
He is urging local people to complete and return a questionnaire that has been circulated to every home and business in the area.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) digital director, Stuart Robertson, said: “The £146million investment in fibre broadband for the Highlands and islands is designed to reach as many people as possible within the available budget.
“It is taking coverage from the 21% of homes which would have received it commercially to 84% of premises across the region.”
He acknowledged there would be settlements that would not be reached, especially areas where a few homes are spread out over a large area, but insisted: “This does not mean they are forgotten.
“HIE continues to work with the Digital Scotland partnership to investigate how coverage can be extended – both through new technology coming online and if additional funds become available.”