WIREDGOV

Cllr Mark Hawthorne, Chairman of the Local Government Association's (LGA's) People and Places Board, responded to the Digital Economy Bill announced in the Queen's Speech, which includes plans for a broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO)

"The creation of a broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) as a safety net for those residents and businesses with poor connectivity is good news.

"The LGA is calling for the USO minimum download speed to be defined as a percentage of average national download speeds to ensure the new national minimum standard keeps pace with average broadband speeds across the country.

"This will mean that when the USO speed is up for review and national average download speeds have risen, the minimum standard will also increase.

"Extending excellent mobile coverage across the country is also key to ensuring all residents have access to 21st century digital connectivity, especially in some of the country's most rural areas.

"With commercial operators obliged to extend coverage across the country, it is important they work in partnership with councils, who maintain the best overview of local areas' digital connectivity needs, to find the best locations for new phone masts and ensure communities are properly consulted on developments. Mobile network operators should not be able to build huge masts in places without local residents and councils having their say.

"The reform of the Electronic Communications Code must not discourage communication network providers from liaising with councils. It will also be important for the mobile sector to adhere to its own Code of Best Practice on Mobile Network Development in England, especially liaising with councils and the community, before installing or upgrading phone masts."