Panel Work Plan 2009/10
13 May 2009
The Communications Consumer Panel published its 2009/10 Work Plan today. We consulted widely on the draft plan, but would welcome any comments and suggestions on the topics that we intend to cover or indeed any that people might feel ought to have been in the plan.
In drawing it up we were guided by the consumer and citizen research into attitudes to broadband that we published earlier in the year. This said very clearly that broadband had moved from being a ‘nice to have' and was now something on which ‘no one should miss out'. We will therefore be devoting a significant part of our efforts to ensure that the consumer and citizen voice is heard clearly in the discussions about the implementation of the Digital Britain and Digital Inclusion Plans.
We support the concept of a Universal Service Commitment to ensure that all homes have the ability to access decent speed broadband and will be working to ensure that this is implemented in a way which meets the needs of consumers and citizens.
Consumer willingness to use broadband services is affected by their concerns about the security and potential misuse of their personal data. We will continue to highlight this issue and seek reassurance for users.
The consumer agenda in communications is very wide. We will continue to monitor, comment on and take action where we have a concern, across a wide range of issues. These will include mobile, consumer protection, next generation broadband access, digital TV switchover and monitoring the operation of the code on broadband speeds, which the Panel were instrumental in pursuing last year.
We would welcome any comments or suggestions.