D I G I TA L A G E N D A F O R G E R M A N Y zzAccess and participation: A powerful, open Internet opens up widespread access to the digital world. Expertise in media and technology is a prerequisite for users’ control over their own deployment of digital technologies. The Federal Government acknowledges the necessity of ensuring widespread access to high-performance broadband networks. These networks are essential to ensuring equal living conditions and equal access to the opportunities afforded by digitisation, which open up new possibilities for action and participation, and new qualification pathways for all. The prerequisites for this participation should be established during childhood education. Under the banner of the Digital Agenda, we will renew our efforts to redress existing deficits. zzConfidence and security: IT is easy, transparent and safe to use. Without confidence in the security and integrity of the digital world, we will not succeed in harnessing the true potential of the digital transformation for the benefit of our economy and society. Increasing public confidence therefore involves securing communication via digital networks, protecting access, and promoting the use of simple encryption methods. However, it will also be necessary to protect our critical infrastructures. We want the Digital Agenda to make an important contribution to ensuring that German remains one of the most secure digital locations in the world. The measures implementing the Digital Agenda cover seven main action areas. The Federal Government will combine its strengths with the strengths of all active participants in these areas to ensure that our country and its people can reap the full benefits of digitisation. 3