Ofcom launches consortium to promote digital take-up

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A consortium to promote take-up of digital technologies in the UK will launch today as part of the Government’s recommendation in the Digital Britain report.

The consortium, which has 50 members including the BBC, BSkyB, BT and Channel 4, aims to maximise digital participation across the UK and promote its economic and social benefits.

The initiative also aims to increase the reach, breadth and depth of digital technology use and will encourage people to take up digital communication technologies by providing information, motivation and support.

The consortium, being launched today by the Minister for Digital Britain Stephen Timms MP and Ofcom chairman Colette Bowe, follows the recommendations in the Digital Britain report in June.

It will be chaired by Ofcom and open to any organisations that can use their communications channels to “inform and motivate” people to engage with digital technologies.

The launch forms part of a range of activites to promote digital participation across the UK, including the launch this week of Race Online by Martha Lane Fox, the Government’s Champion for Digital Inclusion, and the BBC’s Online Access Forum tomorrow.

It coincides with Ofcom’s UK Adults Media Literacy interim report, which found 41% of households with adults aged 65 and over had internet access, compared with 26% in 2007. Also, 51% of low-income households are now connected, compared with 35% two years ago. But the findings fell below the UK average of 73% .

Timms said, “The benefits to being online with access to health, financial, recruitment and communication services can significantly enhance a person’s quality of life both economically and socially.”

Source:nma