A Cabinet Office report suggests ways the Government can achieve
its aim of universal Internet access by 2005
When Tony Blair declared "I want Britain to aim for universal
access to the Internet by 2005," earlier this month, he was
throwing down a challenge to everyone involved in public sector IT,
writes Mike Simons.
The drive for universal access will be buttressed by moves to
tighten central Government targets and those for providing local
services online.
This makes the Cabinet Office commissioned report, Achieving
Universal Access, essential reading.
The study, by management and technology consultants Booz Allen
& Hamilton, was officially launched by Prime Minister Tony
Blair and is available from the Downing Street Web site.
With such a pedigree, the report is hardly heretical, but it
lays down clear challenges to the Government and the public
sector.
Booz Allen & Hamilton spell out the problem. "The UK is
Europe's leading e-commerce market, but is developing an acute
inequality of access problem."
The report predicts that UK Internet penetration should pass 60%
by 2003 with little Government intervention. "However," it warns,
"far from evening out the emerging inequalities, the wave of growth
is likely to exacerbate them in relative terms, leaving an
unconnected or excluded group of over 20 million citizens.
"Waiting for market forces to run their course is not an
adequate response. Commercial providers will target the most
profitable segments of society first," the authors argue.
The report suggests, "An ambitious but achievable new policy
target would be 70% by 2003, with Government initiatives targeted
at those sections of the population that would otherwise be left
behind."
With Tony Blair giving the Booz Allen & Hamilton report his
backing and the Government already acting on some of the areas it
has highlighted, there are clear opportunities for IT professionals
bidding for funding for development projects.
Recommendations
- Offer financial and other incentives to users, employers and
suppliers to bridge the Internet affordability gap
- Provide affordable access via publicly available facilities
(Job Centres, libraries etc)
- Redefine the role of Government buildings and assets to provide
Internet access
- Create universal access to training courses and materials in
the use of the Internet
- Co-opt "e-missionaries", eg teachers and students, to train and
encourage use of the Internet
- Make Internet skills a major part of the National
Curriculum
- Use the Internet as a vehicle for re-skilling and lifelong
learning
- The Government should use its force in the market place to
advance universal access
- Barriers to a strong Internet and e-commerce market to be
addressed