Broadband coverage, media convergence and leading media. Selected aspects of media change and their political implications

  • Type of event:

    Public expert discussion

  • Venue:

    Deutscher Bundestag, Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin
    Paul-Löbe-Haus, Sitzungssaal E.300

  • Date:

    16.01.2013

  • Time:

    15.00-17.30

What was it about?

The discussion focused on three selected aspects of access to the information society. Firstly, the question of how a fibre-optic-supported high-performance network (broadband Internet) can be built and what role politics should play in this. A second topic is the possibilities of use and the willingness of the population to use the network. Still, 30 percent of all households in Germany do not have broadband access to the Internet. The third topic is access to political and opinion-related information. It is to be discussed here whether the Internet has meanwhile become a leading medium for the formation of public opinion and what conclusions could be drawn from this for the regulation of the media sector. The expert discussion is based on the TAB report "Legal regulations for access to the information society", which analysed the dynamisation processes triggered by the digitisation of traditional media and the spread of the Internet. The focus of the study was the question of which basic design options exist for politics in connection with broadband Internet, media convergence and the increasing importance of the Internet, and how the innovation potential associated with the media change can be brought to fruition without losing sight of the principles of provider and opinion diversity.

Programme

2.00 p.m.Welcome and introduction,
  • Ulla Burchardt, Member of the Bundestag,Chairwoman of the Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment
  • Ernst Hinsken, MdB,Chairman of the Committee on Economics and Technology
  • Axel E. Fischer, MdB,Chairman of the Enquete Commission "Internet and Digital Society

2.10 p.m.Presentation of the resultsof the TA project and introductory theses
  • Prof. Dr. Armin Grunwald,Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Head of the Office for Technology Assessmentat the German Bundestag (TAB)
  • Dr. Bernd Beckert,Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI,Project manager of the TAB study

2.30 p.m.

Statement "Broadband policy

  • Dieter Elixmann,Scientific Institute for Communication Services Bad Honnef (WIK), expert for thethe TAB study
2.40 p.m.

Statement "What access do offliners have to the digital world?"

  • Birgit van Eimeren,Bayerischer Rundfunk Corporate Planning and Media Research
2.50 p.m.

Statement "Leading Medium Internet

  • Prof. Dr. Uwe Hasebrink, Hermann-Dieter Schröder,Hans Bredow Institute University of Hamburg, experts for the TAB study
3.00 p.m.Opinions of the political groups
  • Dr. Thomas Feist, Member of the Bundestag (CDU/CSU)
  • Martin Dörmann, Member of the Bundestag (SPD)
  • Sylvia Canel, Member of the Bundestag (FDP)
  • Dr. Petra Sitte, Member of Parliament (DIE LINKE)
  • Tabea Rößner, Member of the Bundestag (Alliance 90/The Greens)
3.30 p.m.

Discussion

  • Moderation:Prof. Dr. Armin Grunwald (KIT)

4.20 p.m.

Closing remarks

  • Ulla Burchardt, Member of the Bundestag,Chairwoman of the Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment
  • Ernst Hinsken, Member of the Bundestag,Chairman of the Committee on Economics and Technology
  • Axel E. Fischer, MdB,Chairman of the Enquete Commission "Internet and Digital Society


Programme (PDF)


Mitschnitt der Veranstaltung

Further information