Keeping in touch with Panel business
29 May 2009
This is the first of a regular series of blogs designed to keep you in touch with the discussions in Panel meetings. The minutes are published in full as soon as possible after the meeting. In the blog we will try to give you the edited highlights as close to the meeting as possible. Here are the edited highlights of our May meeting
- We had a presentation of Ofcom's soon to be published research among those consumers and citizens not currently using broadband. This was an opportunity to see how Ofcom's findings fitted with the Panel's own research on the future expectations of Broadband among all consumers and citizens, and to discuss the policy implications of both pieces of research.
- Ofcom's access and Inclusion consultation was discussed. The Panel were particularly concerned about two issues: the need to have an active programme of work to address mobile coverage; and the need to make significant progress on usability for people with disabilities and older people. In relation to coverage the Panel take the view that work to enhance mobile coverage to deliver broadband services will help with services at fixed locations at home and at work, but will not address the strong consumer and citizen demand for truly mobile phone services, while traveling for example. The Panel intends to pursue these issues among others, including in a written response to the consultation.
- The PRS scope review was also discussed and the Panel agreed that it wanted to keep in touch with developments, particularly given the very high level of complaints about mobile-related PRS complaints and a reportedly lively disagreement about what should be within the scope of PRS regulation.
- A report on BT's migration to a next generation network called 21CN was also discussed. This investment runs alongside investment in NGA and has the potential to considerably improve speeds for some consumers and businesses. Unfortunately pilot work has identified that there are likely to be problems with some alarm systems that are not compatible with the new network. The Panel were concerned to ensure that such alarms are no longer being fitted and agreed to discuss this with BT at our next meeting with them.
In addition the Panel talked about its own annual report, publishing the work plan, getting ready for our potential future role in relation to post and the development of Digital Britain. The next meeting os on June the 9th and I will try to be more timely with a quick report. in the meantime, if you want to know any more about any of these issues or other matters, please do contact us.
Anna