DEPARTMENT FOR
BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2009/38)
issued by COI News Distribution Service. 24 February 2009
A new internet
discussion site to encourage an online debate about the
Government's vision for a fully digital economy and society
was launched today.
Minister for Technology, Communications and Broadband, Stephen
Carter said:
"We understand that there's huge interest in the
Digital Britain report and have already seen a flood of comments
posted on various websites and blogs. So today we are opening up
our own online forum for the report, imaginatively titled digitalbritainforum.org.uk.
He added:
"The point of publishing an interim report was
to set the scene for Digital Britain, clarify the issues and posit
ideas for solutions. The report raised many questions but it
didn't contain all the answers. So in this next stage,
engagement is critical and we want the public to get involved and
share their views."
To kick-start the discussion, Stephen Carter has filmed a video
appealing for views on the interim report's recommendations.
http://www.digitalbritainforum.org.uk]
To enable a genuinely networked debate, the discussion site
contains links to the relevant blogs about Digital Britain that
have already appeared on Write to Reply, Twitter and other
significant sites.
Digital Britain represents a strategic plan to accelerate growth
and secure the UK's position as a world leader for
innovation, investment and quality in the digital and
communications industries.
The interim report was published on 29 January 2009 and set out
five objectives, aimed at ensuring:
* Upgraded wired, wireless and broadcast networks
* The right
framework for investment in content
* Diverse sources of
valued UK content for UK users
* Fairness, accessibility and
universality and
* Network and user capability to allow for
the increasing digital delivery of public services
The final report is due to be published in early summer 2009.
Notes to Editors
1. The site is hosted by Ofcom. However, The Digital Britain
Steering Board Secretariat has sole responsibility for its
editorial content and any queries should be directed to the Secretariat
2. The Secretariat reserves the right not to publish comments
that contravene the House Rules
3. Stakeholders have been invited to submit formal responses to
the interim report by 12 March. This discussion site is additional
to this process and will run beyond that deadline
4. The interim Digital Britain report is available here http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/broadcasting/5631.aspx