Universal broadband commitment must meet consumer needs (UK)

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The UK government commitment to universal broadband must be implemented in a way that meets consumers' needs, according to the Communications Consumer Panel. The Panel has published a set of principles to guide the implementation of the universal broadband commitment so that it meets the needs of consumers across all parts of the UK. These eight principles are designed to ensure that the needs of consumers are central to the process of implementing the universal broadband commitment: the Universal Service Commitment should enable consumers to carry out the online activities that they consider to be essential or will soon; the government should define the Commitment in a way that ensures quality and reliability of service; the government should help consumers to do what they can themselves to optimise their broadband connections; the Universal Service Commitment should benefit people in all parts of the UK, using different types of broadband connection where necessary; the government should be proactive in identifying the parts of the UK that would benefit from the Commitment; consumers who benefit from the Commitment should have a choice of service providers; the government should ensure that the Commitment keeps pace with consumer demands over the years ahead; and finally, the government should deliver the Commitment using next-generation broadband where practicable.