“I am really delighted to be asked to provide expert consumer advice to the new Digital Champion as a member of the Digital Inclusion Taskforce. The Taskforce will be focused on ensuring that disadvantaged groups are helped to get online and benefit from digital communications, a challenge that I’m greatly looking forward to,” Bradley commented.
She added that her role as chair of the Communications Consumer Panel will contribute significantly to her work with the Taskforce. For example, the Communications Consumer Panel has just published research that found that many people already see broadband as essential to their lives, and that it will soon be essential for everyone, she said.
Commenting on the Panel’s research, Bradley continued: “Not having broadband will be a real disadvantage. We know that people on low incomes, people with disabilities and older people are missing out already. They will be increasingly disadvantaged unless we can encourage and support them to get online and reap the benefits.”
She concluded by saying: “I hope that the Digital Inclusion Champion will play a central role in promoting a joined up, strategic approach to enhancing consumer and citizen participation in the digital age, working across government and industry. It will be important to challenge government and industry not only to help people to get online, but to deliver more attractive content, particularly better online public services that will encourage people to try out the internet.”