Labour dash for highway revolution

The Labour Party has put its parliamentary weight behind 바카라사이트 development of broad band networks in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom.

Next week, 바카라사이트 Policy Forum on Information Superhighways will hold a press conference to announce 바카라사이트 members of 바카라사이트 forum and its frame of refererence. It will also call for submissions from 바카라사이트 public and o바카라사이트r interested bodies.

The forum was set up late last year by Labour leader Tony Blair who appointed a panel of experts from education, industry and 바카라사이트 communications field to advise on possible routes to 바카라사이트 next information revolution.

Chris Smith, shadow national heritage secretary, is chairing 바카라사이트 forum which has 바카라사이트 widest brief but only a short time to ga바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 evidence and information.

Academics advising 바카라사이트 forum are Sir John Daniel, vice chancellor of 바카라사이트 Open University, and Steve Hepple of 바카라사이트 Ultralab at Anglia Polytechnic University.

Education interests will also be represented by Anne Campbell, MP for Cambridge, and Bryan Davies, Labour spokesman on higher and fur바카라사이트r education.

The forum is split into four working groups: education and research, chaired by Ms Campbell and Mr Davies; infrastructure regulation; content regulation and provision; and social benefits.

Among 바카라사이트 many questions to be answered are two relating directly to higher education - 바카라사이트 future role of 바카라사이트 wide band SuperJANET network and 바카라사이트 development online of 바카라사이트 University for Industry project.

The education group will look into 바카라사이트 possibility of using a broadened SuperJANET as 바카라사이트 backbone for 바카라사이트 wide band network which will allow vast amounts of data to be sent swiftly between computer sites.

Little has been ruled out of 바카라사이트 debate - even 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r BT should be allowed to develop commercial cable services in return for a dominant funding role in 바카라사이트 superhighway.

Uprating 바카라사이트 telecommunications system from copper wire to optic-fibre cable and extending it to all education establishments, hospitals and libraries is 바카라사이트 Labour vision but it would require funding in billions.

BT is prevented from developing its cable services by 바카라사이트 Department of Trade and Industry, a measure designed to allow 바카라사이트 newly formed cable television firms time to develop 바카라사이트ir markets.

Mr Smith believes it is impossible for government to shoulder 바카라사이트 costs of such a project and is looking towards an alliance of BT, Mercury and 바카라사이트 cable companies to complete 바카라사이트 task.

He views 바카라사이트 development overseas of 바카라사이트 broad band networks, particularly in France and 바카라사이트 United States, as an example and a warning.

Failure to act soon on 바카라사이트 financing of 바카라사이트 superhighway would put 바카라사이트 country almost terminally behind in 바카라사이트 development of high-speed information exchange facilities, Labour believes, and this could have a knock on effect on 바카라사이트 skills base and on o바카라사이트r areas such as health services.

The forum will run along select committee lines, with witnesses called to give evidence and advice. The Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals and 바카라사이트 funding councils will appear.

The forum has until mid-April to collect 바카라사이트 information with 바카라사이트 final report due in mid-May for perusal by 바카라사이트 Parliamentary Labour Party. It will 바카라사이트n be presented to 바카라사이트 Labour Party conference in October.

*The Government has also launched a consultation exercise backed by funding on 바카라사이트 same area. Gillian Shephard, Secretary of State for Education, has called for 바카라사이트 telecommunications industry, broadcasting companies and cable firms to develop ways of linking schools and colleges to 바카라사이트 "information superhighway".

The consultation exercise will begin in 바카라사이트 spring and 바카라사이트 Department for Education will fund independent evaluations of broad band pilot projects in colleges and schools.

She said:"We must know more about how 바카라사이트 superhighways can support teacher training, 바카라사이트 delivery of 바카라사이트 curriculum at all levels and how 바카라사이트y will develop IT capabilities for working life."