Broadband 'must be considered in policymaking'

Broadband must be considered when creating policy on public service funding, the communications minister Stephen Carter has said.

The former chief executive of communications watchdog Ofcom explained that he believes any news provider should be able to seek money from the government.

He told the Guardian that if the country does not "equate broadcasting and broadband in our policymaking" then it is at risk of being "left behind".

"People want public service content and there are many different providers of that, from newspapers to local radio stations, blogs and other wholly-owned, market-funded companies. Not just broadcasters," he said.

Mr Carter was given a peerage in October, allowing him to become the minister for communications, technology and broadcasting.

He had previously been Gordon Brown's chief of strategy and principal adviser, having taken up that post at the start of this year, following a role as the group chief executive at Brunswick PR.