Ed Vaizey to implement the Digital Economy Act

Dawinderpal Sahota, Computing, Thursday 20 May 2010 at 17:55:00

He'll be working under Jeremy Hunt

The new government has revealed the ministers who will be in charge of key
technology issues in the UK.

Former shadow culture and creative industries minister Ed Vaizey has now been
named minister for culture, communications and creative industries. He will work
under Jeremy Hunt at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Jeremy Hunt, secretary of state for culture, Olympics, media and sport, has
oversight of all areas at the DCMS. However, Vaizey will oversee the rollout of
broadband and the implementation of the Digital Economy Act.

It is not yet clear which elements of the Digital Economy Act the Lib Dems
will call on the government to repeal, but the responsibility to oversee changes
has been given to Vaizey.

?There are elements of the Digital Economy Act that Ofcom will deal with, but
all policy which has a ministerial element in the Digital Economy Act will fall
to [Vaizey],? a DCMS spokesperson told Computing.

Chief executive of the Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA),
Malcolm Corbett, endorsed the appointment of the two Tory MPs, asserting that
they?re both up to speed with the key issues of providing next-generation
broadband to the masses.

?From our view, we?re trying to get next-generation broadband rolled out as
widely and quickly as possible ? both Hunt and Vaizey are committed to that and
both have been very much involved with those initiatives until now.?

Full story at http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2263437/government-broadband-ministers