{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-date=2018-11-02&AnsweringBody.=Department+for+Digital%2C+Culture%2C+Media+and+Sport&hansardHeading=Broadband%3A+Universal+Service+Obligation", "definition" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?min-date=2018-11-02&AnsweringBody.=Department+for+Digital%2C+Culture%2C+Media+and+Sport&hansardHeading=Broadband%3A+Universal+Service+Obligation", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-date=2018-11-02&AnsweringBody.=Department+for+Digital%2C+Culture%2C+Media+and+Sport&_metadata=all&hansardHeading=Broadband%3A+Universal+Service+Obligation", "first" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&min-date=2018-11-02&AnsweringBody.=Department+for+Digital%2C+Culture%2C+Media+and+Sport&hansardHeading=Broadband%3A+Universal+Service+Obligation", "hasPart" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-date=2018-11-02&AnsweringBody.=Department+for+Digital%2C+Culture%2C+Media+and+Sport&hansardHeading=Broadband%3A+Universal+Service+Obligation", "isPartOf" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-date=2018-11-02&AnsweringBody.=Department+for+Digital%2C+Culture%2C+Media+and+Sport&hansardHeading=Broadband%3A+Universal+Service+Obligation", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546797", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546797/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The broadband Universal service Obligation (USO) was launched in March 2020 and acts as a \u2018digital safety net\u2019 providing every premises with the legal right to request a decent broadband service providing speeds of at least 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload.<\/p>
As the independent regulator, it is the responsibility of Ofcom to administer and monitor the broadband USO and ensure that the two Universal Service Providers comply with the obligations placed on them.<\/p>
As set out in the Communications Act 2003<\/em>, the Secretary of State must give Ofcom a direction to review the broadband USO once at least 75% of premises in the United Kingdom, on the basis of Ofcom\u2019s data, take up a broadband service with a download speed of at least 30 megabits per second. As of September 2021 Ofcom reported that 69% of premises in the UK had taken up a superfast broadband service.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4647", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julia Lopez"}
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, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hornchurch and Upminster"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Julia Lopez"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure the future of the Universal Service Obligation for broadband.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4139", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ian Lavery"}
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, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wansbeck"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ian Lavery"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1519122", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1519122/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In March 2021, we launched our £5 billion Project Gigabit to deliver lightning-fast, reliable broadband across the UK. Project Gigabit\u2019s objective is to level up the UK by giving hard-to-reach areas access to gigabit-capable internet speeds and, coupled with commercial gigabit delivery, ensuring almost all of the UK has access to gigabit-capable internet as soon as possible.<\/p> We have recently signed our first local Project Gigabit contracts in North Dorset and Teesdale, prioritising delivery to rural, hard-to-reach premises and to those with the lowest broadband speeds, and we will be awarding further contracts over the coming months.<\/p> Furthermore, up to £210 million is available for Gigabit Broadband Vouchers to support rural communities with the cost of installing new gigabit-capable connections.<\/p> Separately to Project Gigabit, the broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) provides the legal right to request a decent broadband connection, helping to ensure full participation in both society and the economy.<\/p> Since its launch in 2020, the number of premises eligible for the broadband USO has fallen from 189,000 to 66,000 as of May 2022. Ofcom estimates that a further 17,000 premises are currently unable to receive a decent broadband connection, but are expected to receive an upgrade by a publicly funded rollout scheme within the next 12 months.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4647", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julia Lopez"}
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, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-10-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-10-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps she has taken to progress her policy to provide all households with broadband speeds which satisfy the Universal Service Obligation.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490395", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1490395/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " 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> 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> 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 (\u201cFreeview\u201d) 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>