There is a growing concern that the aims and objectives of the
Digital Britain report will not survive the absence of its
author, communications minister Stephen Carter, or a change in
government.
More than 100 delegates from media and communications companies
today heard a dozen industry leaders voice their unanimous optimism
and support for Digital Britain at a feed back meeting organised by
the
Westminster eForum in London today.
Speakers worried that the hard work of the past 20 months in
creating the right climate for an economy based on advanced digital
technology might come to nothing.
"I hope Digital Britain will transcend the next government,"
said Emma Gilthorpe, BT's director of industry and policy
regulation.
Caroline Thompson, the BBC's chief executive, said she was sure
the Conservative Party would not have Digital Britain among its top
three priorities. She said Carter's decision to leave government
had left Digital Britain without anyone to drive it in the
interim.
Alastair Davidson, director of strategy, marketing and business
development at Arqiva, the broadcast network infrastructure
provider, said the communications industry "wanted Digital Britain
to happen."
Hugh Davies, 3 Mobile's director of communications, said it was
down to "the people in the room" to drive it forward. "We don't
want to start all over again," he said.