Broadband
Broadband connection voucher industry days
The 2 month market test of the Connection Vouchers scheme, part of the government’s Super-Connected Cities programme, is now complete. The results are being evaluated to assess the future of the programme and decide whether to offer the scheme across all 22 Super-Connected Cities in the UK.
While the results are being evaluated, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are inviting broadband suppliers to industry days in London, on Friday 18 October and Monday 21 October. The events will give suppliers an opportunity to feedback on the programme and discuss the initial findings.
Those who would like to attend should email urbanbroadbandfund@culture.gsi.gov.uk detailing their preferred session and the names of attendees. Spaces are limited to a maximum of 2 per organisation and are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
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Parliamentary Questions
The Government responded to a number of questions on the roll out of superfast rural broadband and answers included the following:
A UK Broadband Impact Study, commissioned by the government to review the economic growth, social outcomes and environmental impacts of broadband on the UK, is expected to be published next month
13.8% of premises in North Yorkshire received download speeds of less than 2Mbps, according to Ofcom Fixed Broadband Data 2012
Over 50,000 premises in North Yorkshire have received superfast broadband since July 2012 when the North Yorkshire county council entered into a contract with BT, supported by £17.8 million of Government funding
BT must provide full transparency of costs for its rural broadband projects and will not be paid for any un-spent contingency. Therefore, un-spent contingency money will be used to extend coverage beyond the minimum contracted levels.
The reporting controls included in contracts will help ensure that invoices accurately reflect costs, and the National Audit Office has reported that this process is robust
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Cybercrime
New Serious and Organised Crime Strategy
The Home Secretary has announced a new strategy to tackle the threat of serious and organised crime. The plans focus on preventing people from getting involved in organised crime, improving Britain’s protection against serious criminality and ensuring victims and witnesses are supported when crimes occur. New measures of relevance to ISPA members include:
The new National Crime Agency to provide a national lead against organised crime, including cyber crime
New arrangements for public/private sector collaboration on financial crime and cyber crime
A new cyber emergency response team to deal with the most serious cyber attacks, including cyber crime
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Parliamentary Questions
In response to a question from Lord Birt, Lord Taylor, Home Office Spokesperson in the Lords, said there is no single reliable estimate for losses suffered by UK internet users from online fraud. However, he added that the payments industry body, Financial Fraud Action UK estimates that losses on plastic cards due to internet and e-commerce fraud were £140.2 million in 2012. A further £39.6 million of losses were attributed to online banking fraud.
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Child Internet Safety
Amendment to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009
Sir Paul Beresford MP and Paul Goggins MP are attempting to alter Section 62 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 to include the possession of pornographic written material about children, in addition to the possession of prohibited images.
They have tabled an amendment to the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill, outlining their intention to create the new offence of “Possession of prohibited written material about children”. The amendment states that prohibited written material about a child is written material which a) is pornographic b) falls within subsection (6) of the original act and c) is grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character. This Bill is scheduled to have its report stage on 14th and 15th October, with its third reading scheduled to take place on 15th October.
Separately, Beresford and Goggins tabled a Private Members Bill that would achieve the same effect if adopted. The second reading of the Bill on Friday 18 October. While introducing the Bill, Beresford argued that it was a ‘ludicrous’ loophole that an individual could be liable for prosecution for possession of photographs and other images of child sex abuse, but not for written material. He said that the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) had seen such written material, but officers generally disregarded it because they were looking only for images.
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Intellectual Property
Government specifies role of new IP adviser
The Intellectual Property Office has announced that the Prime Minister’s adviser on Intellectual Property, Mike Weatherley MP, will play a key role in raising awareness on the issue of IP enforcement and act as a link between government and the creative industries. A former finance director of record producer Pete Waterman’s group of businesses, Mr Weatherley’s role will focus on three areas, IP enforcement, policy advice and support for the Government’s work to raise IP awareness with small businesses. In particular his enforcement role will focus on:
driving support, especially with international audiences, for the International IP Summit in June 2014;
representing Parliamentary views to the IP Crime Group;
providing guidance on how industry and government can promote the respect of IP rights, especially with young consumers;
support the discussions between the creative industries, internet service providers and government on combating copyright infringement;
champion the development of independent evidence to support policy development; and
support the Creative Industries Minister to facilitate discussion with the creative and digital industries on online copyright infringement.
Mike Weatherley said: “The UK creative industries make an indispensible contribution to the country’s economy, and society as a whole. But the way in which the public accesses and consumes our creative output is rapidly changing, and this means that policy needs to be rapidly developed to keep up.
“There are three strands to any discussion on Intellectual Property Rights. ‘Education’ is the main priority and this means persuading the public that stealing copyright is just like stealing anything else. ‘Carrot’ means persuading industry to adopt new business models that make it easier for creators to get their fair dues. ‘Stick’ simply means putting in place whatever deterrents are necessary to stop IP theft.”
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Business & Innovation
£37.5 million boost for innovative UK SMEs
Business Secretary, Vince Cable, has announced Episode 1, a £37.5 million fund to boost small, innovative UK businesses.
Episode 1 will be led by Dr Simon Murdoch, an experienced investor who has invested in significant UK tech companies over the last 10 years including LoveFilm, Zoopla and Shazam. The fund has attracted £12.5 million of private investment, alongside £25 million from the government, and will invest between £250,000 and £2 million into 20 to 30 early-stage technology companies.
Dr Murdoch said: “Our aim is to establish Episode 1 as the best place to come for early stage technology entrepreneurs looking for up to £2 million of funding.”