Lord Stephen Carter, the minister for communications, technology and broadcasting, has revealed plans
29/01/2009
Lord Stephen Carter, the minister for communications, technology and broadcasting, has revealed plans
to introduce legislation for internet service providers to crack down on web piracy.
Carter, who today released the Digital Britain report, confirmed the government would launch a consultation into a legislative approach to force ISPs to notify illegal downloaders their conduct is unlawful.
As expected, he also outlined plans to roll out broadband to every home in the UK by 2012. The digital Universal Service Commitment will be delivered by a mixture of fixed and mobile technology with speeds of up to 2Mbps.
The plans fall into a set of five wide ranging objectives: upgrading and modernising the UK's digital networks; investment; UK content for UK users; access; and infrastructure.
Among the plans are a review of local and regional media ownership rules and the possible introduction of a Rights Agency to provide incentives for the legal use of copyright material and clamp down on illegal usage.
Carter also called for the appointment of a Digital Inclusion Champion and taskforce and invited the BBC to play a leading role in marketing, cross-promotion and provision of content to drive interest in taking up broadband.
The report, which assesses the UK's readiness to fully exploit "the dramatic shift to digital technology as the basis of huge parts of our economy and private lives.
"As a country, we must ensure that our wired and wireless communications and broadcasting networks can meet the demands of a modern knowledge-based economy. Much work has already been undertaken, but over the next five years we will need to upgrade these networks in order to maintain our position and meet our ambitions."
Carter called for an "active and strategic approach" in order to close the gap and ensure a full roll out of digital infrastructure in the UK.
"Delivering Digital Britain will require an ambitious and clear strategic vision from Government and a new and stronger sense of co-operation between Government, regulators and industry," said Carter.
source : nma.co.uk
