Whittingdale committee to publish switchover report
The Commons culture, media and sport select committee will publish its report on the Government's 2008-2012 digital switchover timetable next Wednesday.
The report follows a detailed inquiry, first announced last July soon after the appointment of new members under new chairman John Whittingdale. Whittingdale's 11-member committee heard evidence from 41 expert witnesses and received 54 written submissions.
In January Whittingdale told the Digital Television Group's annual summit that the Government was taking a risk on switchover.
"This is a huge issue, which is going to impact on every household in the land. If it goes wrong it will be a political disaster. The Government is taking a risk in doing this, and I regard it a brave political decision," he told DTG members.
The committee inquiry's terms of reference included:
- The policy objectives and economic benefits of digital switchover, and the relative roles of the different platforms in the delivery of digital television
- The feasibility of, and the steps needed towards achieving switchover to the Government's timetable and with sufficient geographical coverage
- The costs associated with the digital switchover process and how these are to be met
- The protection of vulnerable groups in terms of financial and practical assistance
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