A new Internet discussion site to encourage an online debate about the UK Government’s vision for a fully digital economy and society was launched yesterday. Minister for Technology, Communications and Broadband, Stephen Carter said:
“We understand that there’s huge interest in the Digital Britain report and have already seen a flood of comments posted on various websites and blogs. So today we are opening up our own online forum for the report, imaginatively titled digitalbritainforum.org.uk.
He added: “The point of publishing an interim report was to set the scene for Digital Britain, clarify the issues and posit ideas for solutions. The report raised many questions but it didn’t contain all the answers. So in this next stage, engagement is critical and we want the public to get involved and share their views.”
To kick-start the discussion, Stephen Carter has filmed a video appealing for views on the interim report’s recommendations. To enable a genuinely networked debate, the discussion site contains links to the relevant blogs about Digital Britain that have already appeared on Write to Reply, Twitter and other significant sites.
Digital Britain represents a strategic plan to accelerate growth and secure the UK’s position as a world leader for innovation, investment and quality in the digital and communications industries. The interim report was published on 29 January 2009 and set out five objectives, aimed at ensuring:
- Upgraded wired, wireless and broadcast networks
- The right framework for investment in content
- Diverse sources of valued UK content for UK users
- Fairness, accessibility and universality
- Network and user capability to allow for the increasing digital delivery of public services
The final report is due to be published in early summer 2009.
(Source: Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform)
on Feb 25th, 2009 at 18:07
The website isn’t user-friendly. The entire nation may be affected by the report, but the website seems to assume that we all know and understand what is in the report, and what it’ll mean for us as well as broadcasters.
The website should provide a simple summary of the report, and then ask for comments on each section. Instead it is just a blog which lacks direction.