I’ve read the Digital Britain report and before taking a well-earned lie down (245 pages!) I want to provide a quick reaction from a social (media) angle.

Overall, it’s positive. There’s a clear vision to get everyone online over the next 7 years albeit with a questionable funding proposal – the 50p levy on fixed line phone bills is estimated to raise £130-150 million, which is a fraction of the cost to fund a fibre optic network. Potential flaw in the plan there!

Support for commercial TV stations is good in principle, though it’s a slightly bizarre proposal to support regional news. So far it seems to have left a number of commentators scratching their heads. There’s also a lifeline thrown to Channel 4, suggesting a partnership with BBC Worldwide but again the proposal is fuzzy at best and many are wondering just how it’s going to work in practice. I’m hoping there isn’t a theme developing here!

Cracking down on illegal file sharers will be welcomed by the entertainment industry and 3G enhancement is a positive nod for mobile so it’s great to see some attention there too.

But what I’m interested in is what it all means for us as a society, how we communicate, and what this spells for the advancement of social media.

In essence the report is about policy, infrastructure and effectively getting more people online. Legally-downloaded music to my ears! This is all great but it’s the impact of it that fascinates me most.

More people using the internet will only increase the rate of social media adoption exponentially. Us folk in the communications and digital marketing business should recognise the implications of the Digital Britain report, especially for social media (I would say that!).

With the likes of Google and IAB already giving their backing, it’s a huge step forward – and a massive opportunity.

Digital technology and social media have already radically changed the way we humans communicate and interact with each other.

Fast and timely publishing and sharing of content between vast swathes of the population is actually changing society. At a personal level, it is changing how we interact with friends, family, colleagues, businesses, brands and even complete strangers.

At a high level, look at 24 hour news and immediate information transmission – arguably a driving force behind both positive and negative developments in society, the swine flu health alert and the credit crunch respectively.

Digital technology is that important and this report is telling me that this pace of change is going to speed up dramatically, in this country at least.

If Britain really does become fully Digital, prepare yourself for a new society with social communication as its driving force.

Now for that lie down!