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Communications Bill clause could help extend broadband
News A new clause has been added to the Communications Bill, published last week, to allow third party civil infrastructure providers to build telecoms infrastructure such as ducts and masts. The DTI has said the decision to give more powers to third...
[November 25, 2002, 12:35]
Communications Bill ignores broadband
News The Communications Bill, under which a "super-regulator" will be created to oversee Britain's telecommunications and broadcasting sectors, does not include any new measures to support the rollout of broadband in the UK.
[May 8, 2002, 17:16]
Broadband critics hit out at Communications Bill
News Ofcom, the new regulator for the UK's telecommunications and broadcasting market, moved another step closer towards becoming fully operational when the second reading of the Communications Bill was passed on Tuesday evening.
[December 4, 2002, 16:52]
Gov't comms database plans put on hold
News The Communications Data Bill was pushed back by the Home Office to allow more consultation on the proposals next year. There is concern the bill will allow the government to store all UK communications in a £12bn super database, with Whitehall...
[December 4, 2008, 9:12]
Gov't may shelve comms-database plans for 2009
News The Communications Data Bill may have been axed from the next round of parliamentary legislation, according to reports. According to the government, the bill is intended to bring the UK's crime-fighting and detection capabilities up to speed with...
[November 24, 2008, 8:20]
OFCOM 'will not help' rural broadband crisis
News The government's flagship Communications Bill offers little new help to the many millions of UK people who have no access to affordable broadband services at home, according to the head of Oftel. Edmonds made his comments as he appeared before the...
[May 28, 2002, 11:30]
News Burst: E-commerce, surveillance in Queen's Speech
News The government will lay out its plans for the Internet and e-commerce Wednesday with the controversial e-communications bill, one of 28 bills making an appearance in the Queen's Speech. The bill, which has been subject to a host of delays and...
[November 17, 1999, 11:40]
Ofcom paving Bill published
News The government began setting the framework for the communications super-regulator Ofcom on Friday with the publication of the Office of Communications Bill, but is making no promises that the body will receive legal powers by the 2003 deadline.
[July 16, 2001, 13:58]
Government accused of hidden e-commerce agenda
News The latest Select Committee on Trade and Industry report on the re-named e-communications bill, is far kinder on government than the last report. Part three of the e-communications bill, heavily criticised for threatening individuals with jail...
[November 4, 1999, 12:16]
Net neutrality fight returns to Senate
News The political tussle over net neutrality shifted back to the Senate's turf on Tuesday, taking centre stage at the last public hearing before a mammoth communications bill goes up for a preliminary vote.
[June 14, 2006, 10:40]
Home Office begins work on comms data
News This comes before the the government has begun the consultation on a proposed parliamentary bill that would enable it to gather communications data for policing and national security purposes. She has promised to produce a consultation paper in the...
[October 30, 2008, 8:22]
Gov't planning centralised communications database
News As details begin to emerge about the Communications Data Bill, included in very detail-light form in last week's draft Queen's Speech, the Home Office on Tuesday declined to deny reports suggesting it wanted such a database.
[May 20, 2008, 13:33]
A Year Ago: Big Brother plans pushed through Parliament
News In a surprise move, the government announced in the Queen's speech that it will create a new bill, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill, to carry forward updates to the widely-criticised Interception of Communications Act (IOCA) and parts...
[November 17, 2000, 6:00]
MPs flirt with BT break-up
News Baroness Cohen asked, suggesting that OFCOM, which will replace Oftel once the Communications Bill becomes law, should be given strong powers. Members of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the draft Communications Bill, which met on Monday...
[June 11, 2002, 12:09]
Government defends new cyber-snooping powers
News On the day the government published its long-awaited E-communications Bill (formerly the E-Commerce Bill), Home Office minister Charles Clarke and e-Minister Patricia Hewitt stoutly defended the decision to push through controversial law...
[November 19, 1999, 16:22]
Emergency data laws 'break Human Rights Act'
News A Code of Practice connected to the bill obliges Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to retain communications data for law enforcement purposes. The Home Office has included a provision within the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill for...
[November 16, 2001, 16:27]
Lords to consider data retention objections
News Section 11 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill (ATCS) is set to include a voluntary Code of Practice for communications providers. Earl Northesk is supporting six amendments to the Bill that have been tabled by the Foundation for...
[November 30, 2001, 17:40]
New surveillance bill comes under fire
News The most controversial aspect of the bill is the recommendation that law enforcers be given legal power to confiscate keys required to decrypt encrypted computer communications, a provision that also existed in the DTI's E-Commerce Bill.
[February 10, 2000, 16:27]
News Burst: Big Brother legislation pushed through
News In a surprise move, the government announced in the Queen's speech that it will create a new bill to carry forward updates to the widely-criticised Interception of Communications Act (IOCA) and parts of the e-communications bill.
[November 17, 1999, 15:46]
Big Brother plans pushed through Parliament
News In a surprise move, the government announced in the Queen's speech that it will create a new bill, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill, to carry forward updates to the widely-criticised Interception of Communications Act (IOCA) and parts...
[November 17, 1999, 15:28]
