'Digital Television - a policy framework for accessing e-government services', as the document is dubbed, calls for individual government departments to evaluate the benefits of digital TV as an alternative to online services. The Cabinet Office - where Alexander now works - estimates that 45% of UK households now have Digital TV and that the UK is the world leader in DTV take-up. It is therefore using the medium to support its target of delivering all services electronically by 2005 - a deadline that it is looking increasingly unlikely to meet according to recent surveys.
For example, a survey of 97 local government officers and members, which was conducted at the IRRV Annual conference in October, revealed that only 68% of respondents believe that their authority is on track to meet e-government targets.
Alexander, now Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: "In the addition to the UK online interactive service, launched in April 2002, we have also seen a number of innovative DTV pilot projects, including those from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Department of Health and the Department of Work and Pensions. The new framework will allow government to learn from these examples and build on them."
The government has always been a big proponent of digital TV to the extent that it considered changing planning regulations concerning satellite dishes and antennae in a bid to boost the take-up of digital TV and high-speed broadband internet access in April of this year.
Quelle: NetImperative, 11.12.2003
