Steve Webb's Television, Radio & Internet Survey

By jmitchell27 | Saturday, December 19, 2009, 16:05

This morning I received the latest of Steve Webb MP's questionnaires for local people, this time about television, radio and the internet.

In October I wrote that Steve Webb had asked residents what they thought about levying a 50p tax on every telephone landline to expand broadband services throughout the country. Well Steve has increased the scope of his most recent questionnaire to get an idea of what our overall attitudes are towards proposed updates to media across the UK.

Most of you will know that in March next year we will have to use digital equipment to watch tv, and that in the next few years FM radio stations will be broadcast digitally. However, to the best of my knowledge most areas in and around Thornbury have already got the option to access high speed internet if they choose (Only this week I started using a new high speed line because the connection here was so bad). So if the government only plans to provide high speed services by 2017 then it seems as though it will be too late, as anyone needing/wanting the service will be able to obtain it from private providers.

What do you make of these potential plans? Are you an overall supporter of them, or do you agree that schemes like an internet tax will be too little too late? Leave a comment and let us know, and don't forget to respond to Steve's latest communication to let him know what you think too!

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Comments

I had no idea that weather could have an adverse affect on the digital signal, though it would explain why my Grandmother has been having all sorts of problems with hers in Ireland! Has anyone noticed a problem with their tv over the Christmas period? If we received bad weather and no one had problems then I don't think it will be much of a concern in the future either.
I'm glad you agree about the broadband issue, seeing as most people do only require a limited connection for accessing emails and reading Thornbury People ;-). However, if you want to play games (which I do) then it isn't too much to ask for you to pay for the service yourself.

By jmitchell27 at 12:43 on 28/12/09
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Quick views:
TV - digital switchover next year. Having seen what happened in Devon, be warned. When the switchover took place, the signal was good and robust apart from in bad weather (which they say affects it less than analogue, but it does!) After a couple of monthis it deteriorated and breakup was common on all BBC channels, though OK on ITV. Retuning was needed twice - its not a 'do it once and all is OK for ever' event - so technophobes beware. It is now improved, presumably a strengthened signal, but still breaks up in bad weather. This is not unique - Radio Devon aired a number of complaints from all over the region.
Radio - my car, like many others, has a built-in custom radio which will cost a fortune to replace. The government will of course subsidise this from the profits they make from selling wavelengths :-)
Broadband - agree its too little too late. The 2MHz broadband I have is fast enough for what I need - why should I pay for someone else who wants their games to run faster?

By StanMor at 18:55 on 24/12/09
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