[ComputerWeekly]
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The House of Lords Select Committee on Communications, chaired by Lord Inglewood, is announcing today an inquiry into the Government’s superfast broadband strategy. The Committee invites interested organisations and individuals to submit written evidence as part of the inquiry.
Written evidence is sought by Tuesday 13 March 2012. Public hearings are expected to be held in March, April, May and June. The Committee aims to report to the House, with recommendations, before the summer recess. The report will receive a response from the Government and may be debated in the House.
Consumer demand for bandwidth has increased significantly in recent years and is certain to continue to rise with the increased take-up of internet services and their ever increasing applicability. Superfast broadband enables high-bandwidth content to be delivered quickly across the network, enabling users to access a range of services such as telemedicine, improved video conferencing and the streaming of HD or 3D video content. In addition, the development of the UK’s broadband infrastructure will determine what opportunities UK innovators and entrepreneurs have to develop a thriving ecology for the creation and exploitation of new services. The depth of penetration of superfast broadband infrastructure into communities is therefore of strategic importance: it is a key factor in ensuring no community is left behind, and that innovation and competition are stimulated in the provision of local access and in the development of new services.
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