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Digital Economy Bill [HL]

If I can, I want to reassure the noble Lord that this new clause recognises the specific importance of investment in electronic networks at a time when many of our communication networks are being substantively upgraded—digital television, digital radio, high-speed broadband and next-generation mobile. It is vital that Ofcom should be able to take into account, as far as is appropriate, the benefits to consumers and citizens that will result from these and other major investments. The amendment places the need to promote such investment as the most important qualifier of Ofcom’s duties. Our policy objective as set out in the Digital Britain White Paper was clear, in that the general duties of Ofcom should be qualified by the need to promote investment. We concluded that the best way of achieving this is by the creation of proposed new subsection (1A), which would include a specific requirement on Ofcom, in performing its duties, to promote appropriate levels of investment in electronic communications networks. We believe that that is appropriate and necessary in the current climate if we are serious about having an infrastructure that will carry us into the 21st century.