Accessibility options

Report plots digital future for UK

Date: 16/6/2009 15:43:01

Search: Digital Britain report

The Government's Digital Britain report, outlining wide-ranging plans for the future of the internet and communications industries, is being published.

The document, compiled by communications minister Lord Carter, will tackle issues such as universal broadband and illegal downloading and pave the way to help cash-strapped broadcasters and newspapers.

It was reported at the weekend that the BBC will be forced to give up some of its £3.6 billion public funding in a massive shake-up of the licence fee, with funds instead going to help under-pressure ITV and other programme makers.

The interim Digital Britain report released in January outlined plans for every home in the UK to be guaranteed access to broadband internet by 2012.

But concerns have been raised that internet providers may not have the inclination or finance needed for an extended access to broadband project, which would need substantial investment in new infrastructure.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph in April, Lord Carter said there will "certainly be 25% to 30% of the country where there will be no economic case for building a next-generation fixed network", adding that the telecoms industry was unlikely to fund the necessary infrastructure to deliver the service in rural areas.

Advertisement starts


Advertisement

Advertisement ends

The interim report also suggested plans to tackle online music and film piracy with a new rights agency.

The agency could be funded via a levy on internet service providers (ISPs) and the music and film industry.

Legislation could force ISPs to take action against people who repeatedly infringe copyright by illegally sharing music and movie files.

But speaking earlier this month while he was still Culture Secretary, Andy Burnham said new rules to tighten up downloading would involve encouraging people to act within the law rather than "criminalising" youngsters.

2012 © Press Association

Advertisement starts



Advertisement ends

Advertisement starts


Advertisement

Advertisement ends

  • Man shot in pub in Manchester
    Man shot in pub in Manchester
    The victim, named by sources as 23-year-old Mark Short, was gunned down in the Cotton Tree pub in Market Street, Droylsden, Greater Manchester shortly before 11.50pm yesterday.Three other men, believed to be related to Mr Short, were also injured and are
  • Oldest woman defeats Everest again
    Oldest woman defeats Everest again
    Watanabe reached the summit from the Tibetan side on 19 May, at the age of 73 years and 180 days. That day, more than 200 climbers were aiming for the summit on the busier southern route in Nepal. Four died, apparently from altitude sickness and exhaustio
  • Gazza get his tongue out again
    Gazza get his tongue out again
    Gazza, capped 57 times, last appeared in an England shirt against Belgium in 1998 and now he wears the Three Lions once more as England gears up for Europe?s biggest football tournament
  • The Saturdays love Louboutin
    The Saturdays love Louboutin
    The Saturdays attended the launch of the 20th anniversary of Christian Louboutin's work in the industry
arrow
Man shot in pub in Manchester
The victim, named by sources as 23-year-old Mark Short, was gunned down in the Cotton Tree pub in Market Street, Droylsden, Greater Manchester shortly before 11.50pm yesterday.Three other men, believed to be related to Mr Short, were also injured and are

5 day forecastMy local weather

Partly Cloudy
London
min: 14º
max:26º
 
 

Daily Pictures

Advertisement starts



Advertisement ends

Page Footer


Access keys


You will need to use different key combinations in order to use access keys depending on your internet browser, find out which on our accessibility page.
  • (0) Navigate to Accessibility page.
  • (1) Navigate to Home page.
  • (2) Navigate to My email.
  • (3) Navigate to My Account.
  • (4) Navigate to Site Map page.
  • (5) Navigate to Contact us page.
  • (6) Navigate to Members channel.
  • (7) Navigate to Services channel.
  • (8) Navigate to News & Info channel.
  • (9) Navigate to Entertainment channel.
  • ([) Skip down to the Primary navigation block.
  • (]) Skip down to the more links within this section block.
  • (=) Bypass all navigation and jump to the content.
  • (x) Text only version of this page.