Digital Britain: the responses

Since the interim version of Digital Britain has been released, industry figures have been asked for their opinion. Their voices contain both raise and blame. The following text provides some keypoints from the report as well as responses by industrualists.

Digital Britain – Interim Report

Since 17 October 2008, Lord Carter has worked on Digital Britain – an action plan that should secure the UK’s place at the head of new media. He released an interim version on 29 January; the final version will follow in June. Keypoints:

• Universal access to broadband for all by 2012, connecting the last 40 % of the population. Internet speeds of 2Mbps will be delivered.
• A new legal regime to protect copyright with a deal for digital content rights and a programme to educate and protect people.
• By the summer, the review will decide whether the government needs to invest in a new broadband.
• A reformed Channel 4 rival to the BBC.
• Migration of the radio to digital.

See the Carter report and comment on it: http://writetoreply.org/digitalbritain/

Responses

• The report is light on detail in key areas, much remains uncertain.
• The report hardly comments on DAB digital radio although UK’s digital radio business is in a mess.
• The report does not provide a simple solution to child protection/online safety.
• It would be more ambitious to targt 5Mbps than 2Mbps by 2012.

To read the the responses fully and see further reactions please have a look at Maggie Brown’s article in The Guardian, Monday 2 February 2009.

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