Liveblog: Digital Britain report unveiling
It’s Tuesday. It’s sunny outside. So I’m holed up in a room watching a House of Commons speech on the BBC iPlayer. Why? Because culture secretary Ben Bradshaw is going to be unveiling the UK government’s Digital Britain report at 3.30pm. Stick around for all the details.
3.29: It’s the tail-end of a justice debate, so just a primer on what we’re expecting. The report covers a wide range of digital and broadcasting issues, but two are of particular focus for the music industry: online piracy, and broadband access.
On the former, we’re expecting the announcement of a Digital Rights agency to tackle internet piracy, working with ISPs and rights-owners. ISPs may have new responsibilities to warn and/or punish persistent file-sharers, but the government is expected to stop short of a three-strikes policy to actually cut their internet access off.
3.34: We’re off! Four broad themes: getting the right infrastructure is the first one – digital communications infrastructure is as important as rail and roads.
3.35: Reaffirming commitment to universal internet access, but also important to invest in “next-generation fixed broadband”, bolstering private investments so far. “Left to the market, true superfast broadband will only reach two thirds of homes and businesses in the next decade”.
3.36: Small levy on all fixed lines to establish independent national fund to ensure “maximum next-generation fixed broadband coverage”. Also need to modernise wireless network, to ensure UK is among earliest countries to deploy advanced mobile networks.
3.37: Upgrade all national radio stations from analogue to digital by 2015, with DAB being key in that.
3.38: Martha Lane-Fox is the new digital inclusion champion within the government. She’ll fit in nicely with Sir Alan Sugar. Sorry, Lord Alan.
3.39: Piracy! Ease with which digital content can be copied a huge problem for creative industries. “Developing legal download markets will best serve both consumers and the creative industries.” Ofcom given new duty to reduce file-sharing. Notification of unlawful activity, and for serial infringers, identity release to allow targeted legal action by rights-holders.
3.40: Also making it possible for ISPs to implement bandwidth reduction for serial infringers. Am typing very fast, not much time for analysis. But the burden seems to have been shifted back to labels in terms of music – no three strikes, so they have to sue individual file-sharers. And we know how well that’s worked in the US.
3.41: Talks between BBC Worldwide and Channel 4 to secure the latter’s future. Strong local and regional news is essential too. Secure and sustainable funding stream needed – nothing to say BBC must have exclusive rights to the licence fee. After 2013, will consult on option of sharing a small element of it to ensure high-quality provision of local news. And pilots to be funded in Scotland, Wales and one English region between now and then.
3.42: Open to alternative proposals should the BBC and others wish to make them. So not final, then.
3.43: Ooh, the final report is out – get it here
3.44: Jeremy Hunt, shadow culture secretary, says report is “a colossal disappointment”. It’s excelled itself in consultations – “surely government of the management consultants, for the management consultants, by the management consultants.”
Okay, I’m ducking off now to read the full report and do a separate post on that…
Tags: Digital Britain, music ally
June 16th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
[...] The Music Ally Weblog « Liveblog: Digital Britain report unveiling [...]
June 16th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Am I wrong? This isn’t saying anything except that the internet is important. What’s the point of this report?
June 18th, 2009 at 11:22 am
[...] What it means It looks as if the BBC will lose their monopoly on the license fee come 2013. Very good chance that a lot of it will go to regional news and Channel 4. Local newspapers and websites – often cited as the cornerstone of UK journalism – will not disappear into the ground. You’ll still receive your large, papery copy of the Maidenhead Advertiser complete with lollypop lady stories, cats up trees and completely outmoded cinema listing as well as local TV news, which ITV can no longer support, and local news websites. Conclusions If you live in Scotland and Wales, you don’t file share and you don’t work at the BBC, then it’s generally good news. Channel 4 and all that enjoy it – most of us, I asume – will breathe a sigh of relief. In fact, it’s only really bad news for pirates and, even then, it’s unclear at the moment as to how well this 70% clampdown’s going to be enforced. Try switching to free streamed services. Ownership is so 90s. All in all, it could have been a little stronger but then everyone would’ve complained. It’s the 50p levy that’s probably the most important and best move for the country as a whole. Great news that Channel 4 will be looked after along with local news organisations. Maybe not an Earth shattering report but good, solid important stuff. (via music ally) [...]
June 24th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
[...] about digital music in the Digital Britain Report. Take a look. Music Ally had a play by play lead up to the unveiling. Excitement beyond [...]