Communications Consumer Panel say consumers must be heard

Mar 4 2009 by Jon Griffin, Birmingham Post

Consumers and citizens must be at the heart of the Government’s digital plans and their needs must drive policy-making, a new research report says.

Communications Consumer Panel chairwoman Anna Bradley said: “Up until now no-one has been able to agree on what it is that consumers and citizens want and how this should shape the future of the communications sector.

“Our research is moving the debate forward and helping the Consumer Panel to develop evidence-based recommendations to Government.”

In the latest research report, No one should miss out, people told the Communications Consumer Panel how they want digital communications services to contribute to their lives in the future.

Ms Bradley said many people had clear requirements from communications networks and services.

“They have told us that they want future development focused on their needs, and that everyone should benefit fully from the huge potential of broadband,” she said.

The Consumer Panel, which is committed to the provision of a universal broadband service for all consumers, has been feeding research into the Digital Britain Steering group, providing the evidence to focus future debates firmly on the consumer and citizen interest. Further work by the Panel is under way to understand why consumers think communications services are essential. This work will be fed into the final Digital Britain report.

“The Consumer Panel sees a great future for digital communications, but only if the interests of consumers and citizens are placed at the very heart of the current debates,” added Ms Bradley. “We are using this research to influence the development of Government policy and ensure the consumer voice is heard.”