The Government intends to make the Net available to every single soul in Britain by 2005, according to the Communications White Paper published yesterday.

In what is merely a reaffirmation of policy already published by the Government, it claims it will meet it its pledge for universal access thanks to a range of initiatives such as offering 100,000 PCs to families on low incomes.

By December 2002, more than 6,000 centres around the country will provide Net access and support. This is in addition to all public libraries being online by 2002.

The Paper says: "The Prime Minister has stated the Government's commitment to achieving universal access to the Internet by 2005 for those that want it.

"Such access will be either through devices at home, work or on the move or through access in a nearby community centre.

It then bangs on about how WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) services are now available for "people on the move".

Heavens to Betsy, they must be joking, Have the people who wrote this ever used a WAP phone? ®

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The Communications White Paper

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