U.K. Government Report Highlights Need for Digital Economy Bill

WASHINGTON, December 30, 2009 – The U.K. government released an assessment this week of proposed legislation to implement a wide-reaching technology bill inspired by a white paper published in June 2009.

The report outlines the country’s policy goals to be “at the forefront of the global move towards a digital economy and digital inclusion.” U.K. policymakers have since been attempting to implement recommendations of the report through legislation and other mechanisms.

One of the proposals in the report has been re-created in the form of a Digital Economy Bill, which addresses digital communications infrastructure, cyber security, and peer-to-peer file sharing. The bill calls for changes in radio licensing regime, action against unlawful peer-to-peer file sharing, and for an update in the regulation of copyright licensing.

“The specific policy proposals in the Digital Economy Bill may contribute to the delivery of a number of the government’s wider economic, social and environmental objectives,” reads the November report on the legislation. “A Digital Britain can play a crucial role in helping the government deliver a number of wider policy objectives,” it states.

Meanwhile on the U.K. tech front, The Guardian reported this week that the U.K.’s plans to make broadband access available to every home by 2012 could be set back by the telecom operator BT. “The telecoms operator has warned that it will take legal action if the government presses ahead in the new year with plans to liberalize the nation’s mobile phone spectrum … BT’s move could derail a key part of the government’s Digital Britain program,” reads the paper.