Digital Britain has new minister in driving seat

Stephen Timms, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, is understood to be taking on the role of Minster for Communications to drive the implementation of the Government’s Digital Britain report.

Part of his remit will be to push the 50p-a-month levy on phone lines proposed to fund the Government’s universal broadband plans.

He will bring a Digital Economy bill before parliament in the autumn.

Timms is expected to work across the Treasury and Lord Mandelson’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, according to reports.

His appointment follows concern that the departure of the current communications minister Lord Carter would see the report lose momentum.

Other proposals in Digital Britain, released in June, include measures designed to curb illegal downloads of music, TV and films.

It also set 2015 as the date for the intended upgrade of all national radio stations from analogue to digital.

But critics have been quick to take aim at the report, saying it doesn’t go far enough while also failing to put forward a plan for the proposed tie-up between Channel 4 and BBC Worldwide.

Since then BBC Worldwide CEO John Smith has said a deal with Channel 4 is imminent.

Shadow Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has also described the Government’s £6-a-year levy on phone lines as an extra tax and an “old economy solution to a new economy problem”.

Source: New Media Age

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http://www.nma.co.uk/digital-britain-has-new-minister-in-driving-seat/3003051.article

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