Posted: 13th May, 2009 By: MarkJ
The
Communications Consumer Panel has announced plans to focus on promoting and protecting the interests of the 40% of the UK population that is still not yet online, with a view to making them central to Government policy on broadband access.
Launching the Panel’s Work Plan 2009/10 today, Chair Anna Bradley said: “Broadband will soon be an essential part of people's lives, but being unable to use online services will put many people at a significant disadvantage - broadband will no longer be just 'nice to have'. That’s why over the coming year the Communications Consumer Panel will focus much its energy on the 40% of people who are not yet online.
The Government has made an important commitment to ensure that broadband is available throughout the country,” but Anna Bradley says “this is just the beginning, the barriers to take up include: cost, skills, the design of equipment, on-line security and perhaps critically, the provision of content that will inspire or encourage people to get online.”
The Panel has also said that it will be contributing to the development and implementation of the Government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan so that it focuses on the groups of consumers and citizens who most need help in getting online.