DIGITAL BRITAIN - POLITICAL DEBATE

House of Commons, Tuesday 10/3/09 - Business & Enterprise Select Committee is questioning Lord Carter on Digital Britain.
I'll post web-link when transcription of debate is posted to Hansard (probably on 11/3).

"Why Labour is pushing Digital Britain plans"

Rescue ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, install a bit of fibre, and let the consumers pay for it all.

"Carter's key idea is to ensure universal broadband access by 2012. He also wants to strengthen copyright law and crack down on piracy in the digital world and to create a stronger public-service broadcasting rival to the BBC with 'Channel 4 at its heart'."

Wow, the company that brought us such delights as "Big Brother" and "Desperate Housewives" - I can't wait !

In reply to a post by zebedeee:

"Carter's key idea is to ensure universal broadband access by 2012. He also wants to strengthen copyright law and crack down on piracy in the digital world

Ah ha! So we're to blame and are to be punished.

In reply to a post by zebedeee:

"and to create a stronger public-service broadcasting rival to the BBC with 'Channel 4 at its heart'."
Wow, the company that brought us such delights as "Big Brother" and "Desperate Housewives" - I can't wait !

Man, that's harsh punishment

Curious, though, how both ideas help broadcasters. One might almost think that Lord Carter doesn't have the general public at the centre of his interests. :-/

Edited by Andrue (Tue 10-Mar-09 08:19:43)

This is just an excuse to introduce the broadband tax.

In reply to a post by Andrue:

Curious, though, how both ideas help broadcasters. One might almost think that Lord Carter doesn't have the general public at the centre of his interests. :-/

You didnt really expect any different did you? Governmental figures have to look after the various industry interests which might be harmed if things were framed with the interests of the public at heart - otherwise how will they ever get those nice juicy part time directorships when they get turfed out of office?

Me?? Cynical?? Whatever gave you that idea?

Here's the audio link to questions posed to Lord Carter on Digital Britain by Business & Enterprise Select Committee at HOC today:

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/VideoPlayer.aspx?m...

It's about 90mins long and written transcript will appear in Hansard tomorrow.
I'll post the web-link when it's available.

Mmm not exciting in delivery or content

My connection is too slow to watch that. I think HMG should look at ways to improve our broadband.

Please note - it's an audio link only.
I can hear it quite clearly, without buffering, on my 0.7Mbps connection.

Ah right - that is probably why I thought it wasn't running - my sound is off.
TBH my post was more a joke anyway though as I don't believe HMG should be investing my money in fibre. I see that as a job for the private sector once there is any ROI from it.