Commenting on the release of the government’s long-awaited interim Digital Britain report, Gordon Brown today explained that the document set out “the scale of our ambition to compete in the digital economy and that’s a market worth about £50bn a year."
The Prime Minister’s comments followed equally positive remarks from Culture secretary Andy Burnham who was at pains to emphasise the important role played by the creative and digital industries at today’s launch of the report.
As expected, the report announced the government’s intention to push for broadband for all by 2012. Perhaps more surprising though was Burnham’s strong emphasis on the government's commitment to working with industry to “secure a dynamic investment climate for UK digital content and services”.
"Britain has always led the world in content creation - with the best music, films and TV - and it is vital that we carry forward this strength into the digital age,” said Burnham. “This is a significant Report for the creative industries, taking steps to establish workable systems of copyright in an online age and to preserve choice of public service content. But it is only the beginning of the process and we need to work hard in the coming months to secure workable solutions."
The report itself went on to commit the government to “address the challenges for digital content” and to “providing further support to foster UK creative ambition and alternative funding mechanisms to advertising revenues”.
These will be comforting words as the digital industry prepares for the inevitable difficult conditions caused by the current financial situation.
The report’s author, Stephen Carter, Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting also focused on the importance of fostering strong relations between government and industry, stating: “The innovation, creativity and vitality of our communications industries rightly demand clarity from Government on its role and a framework for the future. Delivering Digital Britain will depend upon a smart industry, working with a committed Government to produce lasting solutions.”
As was widely anticipated, the 22-part action plan announced the government’s plans for a digital Universal Service Commitment to be effective by 2012, delivered by a mixture of fixed and mobile, wired and wireless means.
In its attempts to promote the concept, the government has called upon the help of the BBC. “We are inviting the BBC to play a leading role, just as it has in digital broadcast, through marketing, cross-promotion and provision of content to drive interest in taking up broadband,” the report reads. “With other public service organisations, the BBC can drive the development of platforms with open standards available to all content providers and device manufacturers alike.”
Also addressed in the report was a commitment to get tough on peer-to-peer file sharing which will see ISPs informing infringers of rights that their conduct is unlawful. ISPs will then be required to collect “anonymised information” on serious repeat infringers to be made available to rights-holders together with personal details on receipt of a court order.
Commenting on the report, Nick Stringer, head of regulatory affairs at the IAB said: “The IAB welcomes the Government’s drive towards broadband for all by 2012, in particular freeing up mobile operators to invest in faster broadband services to provide access to online content and services wherever we are.
"Online advertising pays for much of the free content and services we all enjoy on the internet, from search engines to social network sites. The interim report acknowledges this. Whilst the Government remains to be convinced of the overall value to the UK’s digital economy of funding creative talent, we will continue our dialogue with them to ensure they are sufficiently educated about the significance and strength of our industry in today's society.”
To download the full report, click here
