Covid-19: ISPA Member Update

17 March 2020

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We wanted to keep you updated on ISPA’s work during the COVID-19 situation.

You can find below an overview of our current activity and response in light of recent events. This is obviously a live area and we will continue to update on developments, particularly in response to any Government announcements. Please get in contact with the team with any queries.

Media 

• With the increased reliance on connectivity, we have stepped up our wider communications engagement, providing comment and briefing & responding to the media. Some of the key questions have been on the reliability and quality of networks following the increase in remote working and some calls for ISPs to help customers who find themselves in financial difficulties. As broadband becomes even more important to the country, we want to make clear it is you, our members, that are the ones ensuring we all remain connected.
• We had a letter to the editor of the Telegraph published and have provided responses to a number of articles which we will continue to do. We are keen to hear from members on their plans to help customers during this difficult period.

Policy 

• We are carrying with our policy as work as usual, moving from face-to-face meetings to video calls. This is the case for all 3 of our working groups: broadband, liability and online harms. We will continue to represent members to policymakers.
• Just this week are drafting a response to parliamentary committee on broadband, discussing potential new cyber security opportunities and looking at further work on filtering. Updates will continue to be sent to members via the appropriate mailing lists.

Events 

• Events are an important part of our work and we are keeping our schedule under review. While we were able to hold the Parliament & Internet Conference in February, we have had to postpone our next conference originally planned for late May. We have also had to postpone this month’s workshops with our partners.
• Just this week are drafting a response to parliamentary committee on broadband, discussing potential new cyber security regulations and looking at further work on filtering. Updates will continue to be sent to members via the appropriate mailing lists.

Government response 

• We are reaching out to Government on any formal advice for our sector. As you can appreciate this is evolving each day, when we are in a position to share formal information with members we will.
• In the meantime, general Government guidance for employers and employees can be found on the Government website
  (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19).

Please get in contact with the team if you have any questions: admin@ispa.org.uk, 020 3397 3304

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