Linked Data API

Show Search Form

Search Results

1490395
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2022-07-18more like thismore than 2022-07-18
answering body
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport more like this
answering dept id 10 more like this
answering dept short name Digital, Culture, Media and Sport more like this
answering dept sort name Digital, Culture, Media and Sport more like this
hansard heading Broadband: Universal Service Obligation more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes in TV distribution methods on universal access to public service broadcasting, including for low income households that cannot afford broadband. more like this
tabling member constituency Mitcham and Morden more like this
tabling member printed
Siobhain McDonagh more like this
uin 38487 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2022-07-25more like thismore than 2022-07-25
answer text <p>The Government is supportive of a modern system of public service broadcasting that remains relevant and can continue to meet the needs of UK audiences in the future. In particular, the government believes that television audiences should continue to have access to a wide range of public service content on a free-to-air basis.</p><p>The rapid growth in the take-up of superfast broadband and the proliferation of devices capable of connecting to the internet is changing the way we access audiovisual content. For example, 79% of households with a TV set now choose to connect it to the internet, giving them access to a wide array of additional services. These include both free-to-air and subscription-based video-on-demand services.</p><p>As set out in our Broadcasting White Paper, the government is taking steps to support public service broadcasting and to protect audiences who cannot (or choose not to) access these additional services. In particular, we facilitated the extension of the DTT (“Freeview”) platform until 2034, in recognition of the important role it will continue to play as a means of watching both public service and commercial television. This includes programmes intended to contribute to the learning and development of young people.</p><p>In addition, support is available for low-income households to access affordable broadband. A range of low-cost, broadband social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK. BT, Virgin Media O2, Sky, and other providers offer broadband social tariffs starting at £15 per month for households in receipt of Universal Credit and other means tested benefits. In addition, on 27 June, all the UK’s major broadband and mobile operators agreed a set of public <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/telecoms-industry-agrees-to-new-cost-of-living-plan-following-government-summit-led-by-digital-secretary-nadine-dorries" target="_blank">commitments</a> to support households with their connectivity costs.</p><p>For these reasons, the government has not undertaken an assessment of the effect on the learning and development of young people of TV channels only being available over the internet to those families who can afford to pay for those services.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Boston and Skegness more like this
answering member printed Matt Warman more like this
grouped question UIN 38490 more like this
question first answered
less than 2022-07-25T14:03:40.777Zmore like thismore than 2022-07-25T14:03:40.777Z
answering member
4361
label Biography information for Matt Warman more like this
tabling member
193
label Biography information for Dame Siobhain McDonagh more like this