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 here3.44: 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…
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