Digital Britain announcments - like buses - long wait and they all come at once
So, finally after all the anticipation, we have the Digital Britain report, we have a new Digital Champion and the dust is settling after a huge flurry of Twittering and media comment. A very busy day and everything happened all at once … Martha Lane Fox; someone who is immensely digitally included, is to champion the issues of those that are not - those with fixed lines will have to pay a £6 a year tax to help fund the roll our of 2mgb per home to even the most rural of houses. The report does however bring together digital, economic and social agendas and provides a good base from where to move forward.
DC10plus network would like to welcome Martha Lane Fox to the new role and looks forward to meeting her and sharing ideas with her over the coming months.
Gordon Brown stated that he is, “determined that Britain’s digital infrastructure will be world class… it is all part of building Britain’s future beyond the difficult, short-term economic conditions. We must continue to invest to become a world leader in the new high-tech, low-carbon industries of the future by reigniting the British genius for invention, discovery and trade - to capitalise on our strengths.”
Whether 2mgb per household is enough to put Britain at the cutting edge of ‘world class’ is entirely questionable, certainly the FSB feels that these proposals don’t go anything like far enough. A reTweeted post on Twitter currently reads frequently heard yesterday: “i haven’t read this report, but i’m disappointed to hear…” #digitalbritain #dbuc09 …
At 240 pages there is alot to digest and comment will continue to come over the next weeks but you can read the overview and some of the earlier reports here and we will continue to add sources of commentary to this list. DC10plus network welcomes the Digital Britain report and looks forward to building on the work we have already done and rolling out the exemplar products and projects across the country.
Gordon Brown article from The Times http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6506136.ece
Stephen Carter in the FT
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/38756bbc-59dc-11de-b687-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
Digital Britain forum blog
http://digitalbritainforum.org.uk/2009/06/final-report-published/
The full Digital Britain report available to download here
http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/broadcasting/6216.aspx
Online reaction to the report - including the Digital Britain wordle
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2009/jun/16/digital-britain-twitter
ISPs association call the Digital Britain report pragmatic
http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=20404
IT industry gives the report a ‘muted’ thumbs up
http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=20403
Helen Milner, MD of UK Online centres of welcomed the report, “People are the real heart of this report, and it’s their use of technology which will drive Britain out of recession. Having one in four people excluded from the digital world will hold us back, while engaging and supporting them will propel us forwards. I’m delighted to see Carter amplify that view in the final Digital Britain report, to see Estelle Morris’ recommendations for new action on digital skills provision, and to see Martha appointed to ensure emerging policies work for real people.”
Rural response from CRC
http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/events/aruralperspectiveondigitalbritain
CLA (Country Landowners Association) feel that the report provides a tipping point but still fails to recognise the urgency of the need for universal high speed broadband access in rural areas.
http://www.cla.org.uk/News_and_Press/Latest_Releases/Rural_Economy/Broadband/107193.htm/
Peter Shearman from Intellect provides a useful summary (”unravelling”) of the report on the BSG blog
http://www.broadbanduk.org/blog/?p=100
Journalist Bill Thomson who was a part of the UnConference team responded , “The result, though far from perfect, offers a good basis for work on the detail of implementation and legislation, and there are clear signs that those who want to engage will be able to do so.” More from his blog here
http://www.thebillblog.com/billblog/index.php/2009/06/16/digital-britain-engaging-with-the-internet/
Lindsey Annison at 5tth blogspot - the champions of Fibre to the Home is not convinced about the new levvy
http://5tth.blogspot.com/2009/06/50pmonth-is-simply-not-enough.html
Many are yet to comment formally including the CBI, SOCTM and the LGA, but keep checking back here for updates.