A SUBMISSION TO THE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES CONSULTATION ON THE NEXT GENERATION TASKFORCE REPORT ENABLING A CONNECTED SOCIETY

Gorecki, Paul K. and Lyons, Sean (2012) A SUBMISSION TO THE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES CONSULTATION ON THE NEXT GENERATION TASKFORCE REPORT ENABLING A CONNECTED SOCIETY. [EU Commission - Working Document]

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Abstract

The Next Generation Broadband Taskforce (the Taskforce) made 51 recommendations designed to increase the use and penetration of high speed broadband in Ireland in its May 2012 report, Enabling a Connected Society. The recommendations reflected the Taskforce’s purpose of not only highlighting “the legislative, policy and regulatory levers that will facilitate greater investment in high speed broadband services across Ireland” but also identifying “where gaps in commercial service provision are likely to occur between now and 2020” (NGBT, 2012, p. 6).1 The Taskforce was thus very much a nuts and bolts examination of when and how high speed broadband will and could be rolled out across the State in an efficient and effective way. This emphasis on the practicalities was reflected in the five working groups which dealt with issues such as targets for high speed broadband, demand stimulation, and infrastructural barrier removal. To a large extent the benefits of high speed broadband were accepted based on various studies (ibid, p. 10).2 The emphasis on implementation of high speed broadband rollout reflects the Programme for Government’s proposal to make investments to ensure that every home and business should have next generation broadband.

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