[A2k] Queen’s Speech - Digital Economy Bill

[Thiru Balasubramaniam]

<SNIP>

•	Online infringement of copyright - tackling widespread copyright
infringement via a two-stage process. First by making legal action
more effective and educating consumers about copyright on-line. Second
through reserve powers, if needed, to introduce technical measures,
such as disconnection.

http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page21348

The final report of Digital Britain can be found here:

http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/digitalbritain-finalreport-ju=
n09.pdf

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Wednesday 18 November 2009Queen’s Speech - Digital Economy Bill
“My Government will introduce a Bill to ensure communications
infrastructure that is fit for the digital age, supports future
economic growth, delivers competitive communications and enhances
public service broadcasting.”

The communications sector underpins everything Britain does as an
economy and society. The rapid drive to digital technology is
transforming how both businesses and people operate. And this digital
revolution offers great opportunities.

Not only does the digital economy contribute around eight per cent of
our GDP, it is vital for the success of every other area of
productivity. It is growing in significance as we plan for recovery
from the economic downturn. The Government is committed to securing
the UK’s position as one of the world’s leading digital knowledge
economies.

This Bill would put in place the necessary legislative measures to
deliver the strategic vision set out in the Digital Britain White Paper.

The purpose of the Bill is to:
Strengthen the nation’s communications infrastructures, equipping the
UK to compete and lead in the global digital economy.

The main benefits of the Bill would be:
•	Promoting a competitive digital communications infrastructure,
through proposals on radio licensing, changes to Ofcom’s duties and
spectrum modernisation.

•	Providing essential support for creative industries in a digital
world, through proposals on online copyright infringement and changes
to copyright licensing.

•	Improving digital security and safety, by putting in place a
classification system for boxed video games that meets the needs of
parents and children.

•	Securing public service content in a rapidly changing broadcasting
landscape, through action on the provision of news in the nations,
regionally and locally, updating Channel 4 Corporation’s functions and
future-proofing the Channel 3 and 5 licences.

The main elements of the Bill are:
•	Online infringement of copyright - tackling widespread copyright
infringement via a two-stage process. First by making legal action
more effective and educating consumers about copyright on-line. Second
through reserve powers, if needed, to introduce technical measures,
such as disconnection.

•	Support the plurality of independent and high quality news in the
Nations, locally and in the regions - giving Ofcom powers to appoint
and fund Independently Funded News Consortia.

•	Digital infrastructure and content - giving Ofcom new duties to
promote investment in infrastructure and public service media content,
and to carry out an assessment of the UK’s communications
infrastructure every two years.

•	Mobile and wireless broadband - enabling investment in next
generation technologies through spectrum modernisation.

•	Digital radio - updating the regulatory framework to make moves to
digital switchover for radio possible by 2015.

•	Channel 4 Corporation - updating its functions to encompass public
service content on all media platforms - online as well as television.

•	Video games - protecting children by making age ratings compulsory
for all boxed games designed for those aged 12 or above.


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Thiru Balasubramaniam
Geneva Representative
Knowledge Ecology International (KEI)
thiru@keionline.org


Tel: +41 22 791 6727
Mobile: +41 76 508 0997