The Digital Economy Bill was given its first reading to Parliament yesterday, placing the right to broadband into law along with measures to increase online protection for minors.

The Bill, which was first announced in the Queen’s Speech earlier in the year, aims to use legislation to help the UK to become a world leader in the digital economy.

Several key areas were highlighted in the Bill, which is expected to pass through the Commons in the autumn.

Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey said: "We want the UK to be a place where technology ceaselessly transforms the economy, society and government.

"The UK has always been at the forefront of technological change, and the measures in the Digital Economy Bill provide the necessary framework to make sure we remain world leaders."

CBR looks at the main proposals.

 

1. Broadband access

A universal service obligation (USO) proposes that every home and business in the UK should have the legal right to a 10Mbps broadband connection installed if they request it.

Currently around 2.4 million UK properties in the UK do not have access to a 10Mbps broadband connection, however, it falls below the government’s definition of a superfast broadband connection of 24Mbps.

The idea is to make sure that no one in the UK is left behind by poor broadband speed. As part of proposal, Ofcom will be required to review the USO over time, upgrading it as necessary.

 

2. Electronic Communications Code

In order to cut red tape and give communication service providers more powers in order to build and install networks.

End-users will be given the power to switch suppliers more easily and be given proper compensation if something goes wrong, this will be an automatic compensation process for when things go wrong with broadband connections.

The Bill said it will: "require a communications provider to pay compensation to amend-user on failing to meet a specified standard or obligation."

Powers will be introduced to require CSPs to coordinate switching between suppliers on behalf of customers.

 

3. Age verification

Designed to protect minors from accessing pornographic material on the Internet, a number of clauses have been added to the Bill.

Clauses include the requirement for age verification checks, although it is not clear how sites will need to do this.

Internet service providers are not expected to provide blocking on their end with the onus falling on the site owners themselves.

A newly created Age Verification Regulator has been established to fine persons enabling access to pornographic material on a commercial basis, fines can be up to £250,000 or 5% of their turnover, whichever is greater.

Harsher punishments are also being proposed for those that infringe on copyright laws, bringing them more in to line for penalties currently available for physical infringement.

 

4. Data sharing

How data is to be shared across public sector bodies is set to be transformed under proposals in the Bill.

New legislation is expected to be brought in aimed at changing how data is stored, managed, and used in order to help improve public services.

Under the proposals public authorities will be allowed to share personal data with other public authorities.

Protecting people from fraud will form an important part of the plans as it looks detect and prevent losses caused by fraudulent activities. The government is also aiming to improve access to civil registration data, such as registers of births and death, the idea is to stop itself from sending out unnecessary letters.

Open access to data is also being looked at with the idea of making it easier to us citizen data for research purposes.