Communications and Broadcasting Minister Clare Curran has shelved existing work on the blurring lines between telecommunications and broadcasting, known as digital convergence, to revisit inconsistencies in the way online content is regulated. Clare CurranThe Government has put the draft Digital Convergence Bill on hold and will go back to stakeholders for another round of consultation to address what Curran says were unaddressed inconsistencies in the previous administration's review. "It's essential to achieve consistency and certainty for the public on classification and standards and ensure fairness across the sector, so I'll be consulting with stakeholders to reach greater agreement on the bill," Curran said. "This is particularly important for the grey area of classifying on-demand content, which falls through the gaps in the current system." In the lead-up to the review, the previous administration was coming under increased pressure from internet service providers, online content creators, and traditional broadcasters to take the issue of digital convergence more seriously.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 06, 2017 22:07 UTC