Small ISPs 'exempt' from Digital Economy Act

Ofcom is preparing its Code of Practice for the Digital Economy Act

Internet service providers (ISPs) with fewer than 400,000 customers will be exempt from the reach of the Digital Economy Act, according to a report on the ISP Review web site.

The comparison site claims that Ofcom has already told the UK ISP Association (ISPA) that smaller providers will not be expected to turn over subscriber details to media firms and their lawyers, but the ISPA has refused to confirm whether this is the case.

However, the organisation did say that Ofcom's promised Code of Practice for complying with the legislation will be out shortly. Again, concrete details were not forthcoming.

"ISPA met with Ofcom yesterday to discuss the Code of Practice. ISPA has been discussing the practicalities of the Code with Ofcom and members over the last couple of weeks, and the draft Code will be published shortly," said a spokesman.

Ofcom has not had long to consider the Digital Economy Act, which many said had been rushed through parliament without proper consideration, and will be keen not to rush to any decisions.

An Ofcom spokeswoman told V3.co.uk that it has been "holding discussions with lots of stakeholders and has mooted a lot of ideas", but that "nothing is set in stone" until the consultation is published.

The watchdog has promised to have the consultation finished by June.

The Liberal Democrat party, meanwhile, is seeking to repeal the web site blocking and three-strikes disconnection elements of the Digital Economy Act.