Asked by: Andrew Percy (Conservative - Brigg and Goole)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what reforms to the Electronic Communications Code his Department is proposing to improve the ability of mobile network operators to increase mobile voice and data coverage in rural areas.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
Consultation on the reform of the Code closed on 30 April 2015. I currently have my officials analysing all of the responses and we will publish a response in due course. The Government aims to reform the current Code to promote network connectivity, expand coverage and take into account the legitimate interests of all parties.
Asked by: Andrew Percy (Conservative - Brigg and Goole)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when his Department will be publishing a response to its consultation on Reforming the Electronic Communications Code launched on 26 February 2015.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Department received a total of 153 response to the consultation launched in February 2015 on the reform of the Electronic Communications Code, my officials are currently analysing these responses and I will respond to Parliament as soon as possible.
Asked by: Andrew Percy (Conservative - Brigg and Goole)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on mobile telephones and mid-contract price increases.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
I have regular discussions with Ofcom on a range of issues.
Government pressure recently led to reform in this area. As a result, for contracts entered into after 23 January 2014, when the core price increases mid-contract, consumers can exit their contracts without penalty and hence can switch to another provider or tariff. This applies to all communications providers.
Asked by: Andrew Percy (Conservative - Brigg and Goole)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many schools will benefit from his broadband rollout for schools.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Government has committed £780million to help deliver superfast broadband to 95 per cent of UK premises by 2017. We do not have data on the specific number of schools that would benefit from the programme. Public sector broadband requirements would be the managed by the department or local authority with responsibility for delivering the relevant policy.
Asked by: Andrew Percy (Conservative - Brigg and Goole)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with mobile network operators about shared infrastructure; and if he will use the forthcoming review of the Electronic Communications Code to reform wayleases and rights of way for the implementation and maintenance of shared infrastructure.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Maria Miller, and I had a number of representations from mobile network operators about shared infrastructure. DCMS is considering the implications of the Law Commission's report on the Electronic Communications Code which was published in February 2013. The analysis work is ongoing and I will make public the plans to reform the Electronic Communications Code in due course.