This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/technology/7857402.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Digital economy action plan due | Digital economy action plan due |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Government plans to boost the digital and communications industries, which contribute more than £50bn a year to the UK economy, are due to be outlined. | Government plans to boost the digital and communications industries, which contribute more than £50bn a year to the UK economy, are due to be outlined. |
| The interim Digital Britain report will examine a number of different areas, including broadband development, public service broadcasting and digital radio. | The interim Digital Britain report will examine a number of different areas, including broadband development, public service broadcasting and digital radio. |
| It is thought it may set minimum broadband speeds and push for universal broadband coverage by 2012. | It is thought it may set minimum broadband speeds and push for universal broadband coverage by 2012. |
| The full report and proposals will be unveiled in late spring 2009. | The full report and proposals will be unveiled in late spring 2009. |
| Lord Carter, the minister for communications, technology and broadcasting, will publish his interim report after a breakfast meeting at Downing Street attended by senior media and telecoms executives. | Lord Carter, the minister for communications, technology and broadcasting, will publish his interim report after a breakfast meeting at Downing Street attended by senior media and telecoms executives. |
| The report is also expected to examine illegal file-sharing of movies, music and TV and appraise ways of tackling it. | The report is also expected to examine illegal file-sharing of movies, music and TV and appraise ways of tackling it. |
| And it will include proposals on how to protect children, as millions, many of them under-18, visit social networking sites and play games online. | And it will include proposals on how to protect children, as millions, many of them under-18, visit social networking sites and play games online. |
| Digital divide | |
| The report is also likely to urge a merger between Channel 4 and either Five or BBC Worldwide to create a viable public service broadcaster to compete with the BBC. | |
| Communications watchdog Ofcom last week warned Channel 4 faced a bleak future unless a deal could be reached. | |
| In the run-up to the report publication, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said the government was looking at regulating the internet to "even up" the imbalance with television. | In the run-up to the report publication, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said the government was looking at regulating the internet to "even up" the imbalance with television. |
| Around 40% of British households currently have broadband internet access, and the government wants the rest of the country to get connected. | |
| The report is thought to suggest replacing the universal service obligation, under which BT is required to provide everyone in the country with a phone line, with a new industry-wide obligation to provide broadband for everyone. | |
| The report is also expected to show that the digital divide is no longer a geographical issue with towns connected and rural areas cut off. Instead areas of digital exclusion are likely to mirror those of social deprivation. | |
| However, broadband experts have warned that any moves to create next generation networks that run at very high speeds may only serve to deepen the digital divides in the UK. | However, broadband experts have warned that any moves to create next generation networks that run at very high speeds may only serve to deepen the digital divides in the UK. |