TalkTalk highlights growing Digital Economy Bill unrest

TalkTalk is petitioning the government to reconsider its controversial legislation

Internet service provider TalkTalk has renewed calls for the government to reassess its Digital Economy Bill, arguing today that widespread public outrage over the legislation is growing.

Andrew Heaney, executive director of strategy and regulation at TalkTalk, told V3.co.uk at a Westminster eForum on the Future of Broadband in the UK, that the popularity of TalkTalk's Don't Disconnect Us petition on the government's number10.gov.uk web site proved his point.

The petition has received over 24,000 signatures since it was set up, making it the sixth most popular on the site.

"The amount of people who have signed the petition shows the strength of feeling that exists in all sectors on this Bill, from ISPs like ourselves to academics and notable celebrities like Stephen Fry who promoted the petition on his Twitter page," he said.

"The Bill is not something TalkTalk believes is a good thing, as it will increase costs to our customers and means we may have to unfairly remove customers from our service."

Heaney was referring to the controversial three-strikes disconnection policy proposed by Lord Mandelson.

The government should listen to the feedback it is getting to the Bill from these areas, Heaney said, and "act accordingly and reassess the Bill".

Heaney also noted that he had heard rumours that the Secti on 17 amendment, which would give any future secretary of state the ability to change copyright law, was to be removed.

"It may well be the case that the Section 17 amendment was always something of a sacrificial lamb in the Bill, but even so it's important that it is removed. However, there are lots of other elements of the Bill that need to be considered for dropping too, not just Section 17," he said.