Asked by: James Daly (Conservative - Bury North)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support Openreach to reopen their Community Fibre Partnership applications.
Answered by Matt Warman
Building Digital UK (BDUK) has been in frequent communication with Openreach to assist with their review of their Fibre Community Partnership (FCP) scheme and to support them in reopening the scheme as soon as possible. BDUK is also continuing to work through existing high priority FCP projects that have been submitted to the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme as suggested and sequenced by Openreach.
Communities that are interested in the FCP scheme can register their contact details on the Openreach website to receive a notification once the scheme has been reopened to new applications.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Ogmore)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to her announcement of 27 June 2022 on the telecoms industry's agreement to a new cost-of-living plan, what data she used to determine that social tariffs are available across 99 per cent of the UK.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
On Monday 27 June, 2022, leaders of the UK’s major fixed broadband, landline and mobile operators agreed with the government a set of commitments designed to support households through the global rise in the cost-of-living.
Social tariffs are available to those claiming Universal Credit, and a number of providers also accept those in receipt of other means-tested benefits. The commitments also offer help to any household struggling with their bills. Ofcom’s Affordability report from February 2022 showed that one in five UK households have an affordability issue with their communication service (landline, broadband, mobile and Pay TV), and we hope that the commitments we reached with industry will help all households who may be struggling with their costs during this difficult time.
We anticipate a period of transition as staff are trained and processes put in place, but the measures agreed with industry are available now, so people should feel confident in contacting their operator if they require assistance. The Government has also committed to work with providers to assist them raise awareness of social tariffs. To support the sector, the government is also developing eligibility checking software which will allow a faster, more efficient application process. We expect these workstrands to conclude over the summer.
Social Tariffs are available from BT, Virgin Media O2, Sky, Now Broadband, Vodafone, Hyperoptic, Country Connect, Broadband for the Rural North, G Networks, Air Broadband, and KCOM - the government has determined that social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Ogmore)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the number of households that will be in receipt of her proposals to tackle the cost of living by providing support for broadband.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
On Monday 27 June, 2022, leaders of the UK’s major fixed broadband, landline and mobile operators agreed with the government a set of commitments designed to support households through the global rise in the cost-of-living.
Social tariffs are available to those claiming Universal Credit, and a number of providers also accept those in receipt of other means-tested benefits. The commitments also offer help to any household struggling with their bills. Ofcom’s Affordability report from February 2022 showed that one in five UK households have an affordability issue with their communication service (landline, broadband, mobile and Pay TV), and we hope that the commitments we reached with industry will help all households who may be struggling with their costs during this difficult time.
We anticipate a period of transition as staff are trained and processes put in place, but the measures agreed with industry are available now, so people should feel confident in contacting their operator if they require assistance. The Government has also committed to work with providers to assist them raise awareness of social tariffs. To support the sector, the government is also developing eligibility checking software which will allow a faster, more efficient application process. We expect these workstrands to conclude over the summer.
Social Tariffs are available from BT, Virgin Media O2, Sky, Now Broadband, Vodafone, Hyperoptic, Country Connect, Broadband for the Rural North, G Networks, Air Broadband, and KCOM - the government has determined that social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Ogmore)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has a fixed time frame for the implementation of the cost of living proposals on tackling rising broadband costs.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
On Monday 27 June, 2022, leaders of the UK’s major fixed broadband, landline and mobile operators agreed with the government a set of commitments designed to support households through the global rise in the cost-of-living.
Social tariffs are available to those claiming Universal Credit, and a number of providers also accept those in receipt of other means-tested benefits. The commitments also offer help to any household struggling with their bills. Ofcom’s Affordability report from February 2022 showed that one in five UK households have an affordability issue with their communication service (landline, broadband, mobile and Pay TV), and we hope that the commitments we reached with industry will help all households who may be struggling with their costs during this difficult time.
We anticipate a period of transition as staff are trained and processes put in place, but the measures agreed with industry are available now, so people should feel confident in contacting their operator if they require assistance. The Government has also committed to work with providers to assist them raise awareness of social tariffs. To support the sector, the government is also developing eligibility checking software which will allow a faster, more efficient application process. We expect these workstrands to conclude over the summer.
Social Tariffs are available from BT, Virgin Media O2, Sky, Now Broadband, Vodafone, Hyperoptic, Country Connect, Broadband for the Rural North, G Networks, Air Broadband, and KCOM - the government has determined that social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Ogmore)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how the Government defines a low-income household in the context of financial support for broadband costs.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
On Monday 27 June, 2022, leaders of the UK’s major fixed broadband, landline and mobile operators agreed with the government a set of commitments designed to support households through the global rise in the cost-of-living.
Social tariffs are available to those claiming Universal Credit, and a number of providers also accept those in receipt of other means-tested benefits. The commitments also offer help to any household struggling with their bills. Ofcom’s Affordability report from February 2022 showed that one in five UK households have an affordability issue with their communication service (landline, broadband, mobile and Pay TV), and we hope that the commitments we reached with industry will help all households who may be struggling with their costs during this difficult time.
We anticipate a period of transition as staff are trained and processes put in place, but the measures agreed with industry are available now, so people should feel confident in contacting their operator if they require assistance. The Government has also committed to work with providers to assist them raise awareness of social tariffs. To support the sector, the government is also developing eligibility checking software which will allow a faster, more efficient application process. We expect these workstrands to conclude over the summer.
Social Tariffs are available from BT, Virgin Media O2, Sky, Now Broadband, Vodafone, Hyperoptic, Country Connect, Broadband for the Rural North, G Networks, Air Broadband, and KCOM - the government has determined that social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of starting an information campaign to make landlords aware of the critical role they play in the provision of the UK's communication network to full fibre.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
I agree that landlords play a critical role in enabling everyone in the country to have access to full fibre broadband.
If landlords are not prepared to grant access to operators who wish to install full fibre broadband in their buildings, this could create a digital divide which this government is keen to avoid. We need to make sure all landowners are properly informed, not only of the benefits of greater connectivity, but also their rights under the Electronic Communications Code.
My officials hold monthly workshops with a range of stakeholders in this sector, including those representing landowner interests. These workshops are aimed at encouraging greater cooperation between landowners and telecoms operators.
One outcome of these workshops may be the creation of a sector wide body for Electronic Communications Code matters, encompassing both landowner and operator interests, which is a development that I would welcome. This body may not just represent all stakeholder interests, but also educate them on how they can assist with the expansion and improvement of existing digital networks.
This Government has also introduced measures in the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act to assist both operators and tenants where a landlord is unresponsive to repeated requests for access to install equipment in blocks of flats. The implementing regulations will be laid before Parliament when Parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans her Department has for informing consumers about changes that will happen to their telephone and internet services over the next three years.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Between now and 2025, the way landlines work in the UK is changing. Providers are moving from the old Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. The PSTN is a privately-owned telecoms network and the decision to upgrade it has been taken by the telecoms industry.
As this is an industry-led migration, communications providers will contact their customers with information ahead of their line being upgraded. The exact migration process will depend on the provider and the type of equipment the customer has at their premises.
We are working together with Ofcom to ensure customers receive appropriate levels of communication and vulnerable consumers are protected. Ofcom requires that providers must engage in effective communications to ensure all vulnerable customers understand the risk in the migration to VoIP. We are also ensuring the telecoms industry is engaging with priority sectors such as Critical National Infrastructure and Telecare providers ahead of time.
Ofcom has set out initial proposals for the process for retiring the fixed copper broadband network. This is a separate process to the PSTN migration and we do not expect to see copper retirement in the next three years.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of a streamlined negotiation process for access agreements under the Electronic Communications Code to allow for the installation of full fibre broadband in Multi Dwelling Units.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act gained Royal Assent in March 2021. This Act aims to address one stated policy barrier: making it easier for telecoms companies to access multi-dwelling units - such as blocks of flats - where a tenant has requested a new connection, but the landlord has not responded to requests for access rights.
The Act inserts a new Part 4A to the Electronic Communication Code which provides a process that telecommunications operators could use to gain code rights to multi-dwelling premises for a defined period. This only applies where:
a lessee in occupation in a multi-dwelling building has requested a telecommunications service from an operator.
to connect the property the telecoms operator requires an access agreement with another person such as the landlord.
the landlord has not responded to the telecoms operator’s request for access.
My Department published a consultation which sought views on the terms which will accompany the interim Code rights provided to operators who have successfully applied for an order made under Part 4A of the Electronic Communications Code. The consultation closed on Wednesday 4 August. Responses are being considered and the consultation response will be published in due course, with regulations laid as soon as possible.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the recommendations from the Institute for Public Policy Research of September 2021, to include the cost of broadband in (a) social security payments and (b) allowances for asylum seekers.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
No assessment has been made.
Policy on broadband is a matter for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. A range of broadband social tariff packages are available in the market to support those on low incomes or who receive specific benefits. BT, for example, recently announced a Home Essentials package which will provide fibre and voice services to households in receipt of Universal Credit and certain other benefits for £15 per month. Virgin, Hyperoptic and other providers are offering similar packages to assist households on low incomes. Between them, these products are available to 99% of households across the country. The Government continues to encourage all fixed-line providers to introduce a social tariff offer so as to ensure those on low incomes have affordable access to services and information.
With respect to rates of income-related benefits, these are not made up of separate amounts for specific items such as broadband. Rather, they are intended to cover outgoings across households with a wide variety of characteristics and expenditure patterns.
Allowances for asylum seekers are a matter for the Home Office. Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute are provided with accommodation and other support to cover their essential needs, usually in the form of a weekly cash allowance. The level of the allowance is reviewed annually and takes into account communication needs, including the cost of buying and maintaining a mobile phone with internet access.
Asked by: Meg Hillier (Labour (Co-op) - Hackney South and Shoreditch)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has taken to help people without a broadband connection prepare for the closure of the public switched telephone network in 2025.
Answered by Matt Warman
The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is privately owned, and the process for its closure is industry-led. The PSTN closure will be undertaken in a phased approach with areas shutting down over the coming years with the final exchange expected to turn off in 2025.
While PSTN withdrawal is an industry-led process, the Government and Ofcom are working together to ensure consumers and sectors are protected and prepared for the withdrawal process.
The PSTN network will be replaced with new All-IP technology - such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). This technology is higher quality and more reliable than the existing PSTN network and will guarantee a better quality of service. All-IP requires a stable internet connection of approximately 0.5Mbps. Where it is not possible to deliver such a service to a premise, the service provider will be required to offer an alternative technological solution - such as Single Order Generic Ethernet Access (SoGEA).
Ofcom has a statutory duty to further and protect the interest of consumers, including those who are vulnerable. As part of this duty, Ofcom has rules in place, known as general conditions, which all providers must follow, that mandate communication providers to have procedures and policies in place to identify and support vulnerable consumers.
Ofcom has also published a Vulnerability Guide for providers, setting out their expectations and good practice on how vulnerable telecoms consumers should be supported. This includes steps providers can take to identify vulnerable consumers, and an expectation that all providers implement specialist teams in order to provide extra support.
The telecoms industry - via the Broadband Stakeholder Group - have been collaborating on this issue, and in June 2020 launched a consumer-facing website as a resource to inform the public of the process. This website was developed with the support of telecoms companies, Ofcom and DCMS and is funded by TechUK. (https://www.futureofvoice.co.uk/)
If an individual is concerned about the PSTN withdrawal process, or would like further information, they should contact their telecoms service provider who will be able to provide specific support.