The Government will invest £200m in a public service delivery plan designed to provide 2Mb per second broadband internet access to everyone by 2012, the Digital Britain report revealed.
The £200m will be reallocated from money left over from the Digital Switchover Help Scheme. Run by the BBC, the scheme was set up to help the old and disabled with the transition from analogue to digital television by 2012.
Matt Brittin, UK managing director of
Google, said: "The widespread use of the internet has broken down old barriers to information and communication, created new businesses and become vitally important to British society and the economy.
"It's important to look at how to widen access and how to ensure that the online ecosystem continues to allow new ideas and business models to thrive."
From September, new legislation will introduce measures on copyright licensing to tackle illegal file sharing aimed at deterring online copyright infringement.
Nick Stinger, head of regulation at the IAB, said: "It's good the Government recognises advertising as a good form of monetising online content. The Government places significant importance on self regulation, education and promoting transparency and protecting users online.
"In the report, it's also positive that behavioural advertising is acknowledged as a contribution in helping content providers monetise their content online."
Meanwhile, producers' lobby Pact welcomed plans to beef-up copyright holders' protections.
John McVay, chief executive for Pact, said: "We are delighted the Government has recognised the value of IP rights in the digital landscape through its proposal to extend the rights framework in the independent production sector to independent content across the UK online and on air, and for taking steps to give Ofcom regulatory powers to deal with piracy."
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