Timms tasked with Digital Britain job

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 4 Aug 2009 at 15:13

Reports suggest that treasury minister Stephen Timms will become the country's next communications minister, as the Government begins implementing the recommendations in the Digital Britain report.

The Guardian is reporting that Timms will take over the post from Lord Stephen Carter who is heading back to the private sector.

First on the agenda for Timms will be to push through the £6 broadband tax intended to fund a new Universal Broadband Obligation, providing every home in the country with a 2Mbits/sec connection.

Timms will need to bring some momentum to the proposal which has already run into difficulties. The independent body meant to oversee the implementation of the proposals should have been formed last month, but it is still waiting to find a chief executive.

There's also more fundamental concerns that the £6 broadband tax won't be enough to cover the cost of the work involved.

A committee of MPs is currently investigating the issue, and also whether the 2Mbits/sec commitment is ambitious enough given the escalating bandwidth requirements of most British homes.

A recent report by Ofcom also suggests the Government may have seriously underestimated Britain's broadband divide. The Digital Britain report claims 11% of British broadband lines would be unable to deliver a 2Mbits/sec service, whereas a study by Ofcom pegs it closer to 20%.