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Digital Britain discussion site goes live

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