[The News Bot]

The government has published its Digital Britain report
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[eric pisch]

dead link

BBC NEWS | Technology | Report lays out UK digital future


lol 245 pages of class one BS


and surprise surprise another new initiative that involves a new tax for us, that no doubt will creep up year on year

ohh the government's woken up to this thing called the internet, which has been getting along fine without them

by the time they action this lot the net will be dead and we will all have neural implants

[Rasczak]

I think the report - which can be downloaded from BBC News - is a very mixed bag IMHO.

I am not too concerned about the new tax to fund expansion of the network. Thankfully both my homes are in very well connected areas (depsite one being regarded as 'rural') but I think it is important that all have high speed access to the internet. Also on the positive side, I welcome the focus on expansion/liberalisation of the 3G network.

However I think, on the whole, the report fails for being simply too reserved. The 'upgrade' of our internet infrastructure to give "90% of the UK ... broadband of up to 50Mbps by 2017" is absurd - they should be aspiring to achieve double that bandwidth as they have already done in South Korea! I also think the proposed action against illegal filesharers - namely forcing ISPs to notify unlawful activity and, for repeat-infringers, release their identities for civil action - doesn't go nearly far enough.

I also strongly disagree with the proposals to remove a share of the licence fee money to third party news organisations. As someone who has lived abroad for many years, I consider the BBC a world class organisation. It's output and innovation should be safeguarded and not undermined by a reduction in budgets to fund second class local news.

Back to the drawing board please!

[r4merlin]

I am not too concerned about the new tax to fund expansion of the network.

I disagree, I think the telecomms/ISP's should sort there own network out, ultimetely they will be benefit from it. This is just goverement trying to get some extra dosh, which they will take a cut of no doubt to assist with expenses.

What these idiots in parliment also trying to do is a waste of time also for some people. There was article about pensioner, who has absoletely no interest in the internet and never will have, I am sure there are thousands in same position. I would also imagine that there are people of all ages who will also never want this.

Agree with speeds, VM have been testing 100mps in Kent currently and by the time 2017 comes, I would have expected if they continue in same vain they would be quadruaple that speed.

Also that the BBC should not lose funds to other TV parties, unless they are allowed to compete on same level regarding advertising in there schedules and if they were allowed to the whole license fee should be scrapped anyway. I think it gives unfair advantage to competition.

BBC is great institution, but maybe its future is not secure.

[Rasczak]

Originally Posted by r4merlin

I disagree, I think the telecomms/ISP's should sort there own network out, ultimetely they will be benefit from it.

If we get a modern, high bandwidth internet infrastructure, it is us as consumers who will benefit. Streaming of HD video an audio, along with all sorts of other multimedia content, will become standard. The driver for tax funded upgrades though is justified by the economic benefits that will come with the enhancement to the infrastructure.

There was article about pensioner, who has absoletely no interest in the internet and never will have, I am sure there are thousands in same position. I would also imagine that there are people of all ages who will also never want this.

But you could say the same for so many things. As tax payers we pay for all sorts of things that we don't want - but actually alot of them are worthwhile expenses if you take the social view. For example public transport or the NHS!

[Uridium]

Originally Posted by Rasczak

I also strongly disagree with the proposals to remove a share of the licence fee money to third party news organisations. As someone who has lived abroad for many years, I consider the BBC a world class organisation. It's output and innovation should be safeguarded and not undermined by a reduction in budgets to fund second class local news.

Back to the drawing board please!

They aren't removing any funds from the BBC. The 3.5% they wish to use is already ringfenced and is currently being used to help fund Digital switchover. this has been the case for several years now.