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National broadband tax unveiled in Digital Britain

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Posted 16th June 2009 at 5:46pm by Oliver Folkard

Customer service and Satisfaction

A new levy is to be introduced on every fixed telephone line in the country to help fund universal access to high-speed broadband across Britain.

Ben Bradshaw announced plans for the broadband tax among a raft of proposals as the government published its long-awaited Digital Britain report.

Speaking in the House of Commons today (June 16th), the newly-appointed Culture Secretary argued that an annual tax of £6 (50p-a-month) on all fixed phone lines would help deliver "next-generation broadband" to the whole of the UK.

According to the Digital Britain report, the tax would go towards an independent fund to provide subsidies for internet providers to offer 2Mb broadband deals to areas where it would not otherwise be cost effective to do so.

Compiled by outgoing Communications Minister Lord Stephen Carter, it estimated that without such funding, higher-speed broadband services would remain out of reach to one third of the population by 2012, regardless of consumer demand.

Meanwhile, Dr Stuart Burgess, Chair of the commission for Rural Communities, announced that the organisation is to launch a report later this month to set out issues relating to the provision of digital technologies such as broadband to outlying areas.

More news on: Customer service and satisfaction, Broadband coverage, Future developments

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4 comments

  • R Young, 17th June 2009.

    Outrageous. I have been on broadband for 10 years. If you like I am part of the revolution that made it happen. If you want it, pay for it, don't ask me to subsidise those newbies who just expect it on a plate.

    They have not told us whether fibre optic users who pay for their own network will be tax-exempt e.g. Virgin formerly NTL or Blueyonder? Or is this a way of keeping BT afloat?

    Reply

  • Richard, 18th June 2009.

    Do you really think I want to pay more tax to incompetent leaders who I didn't vote for? Honestly, if they had worked with BT in the first place we wouldn't be the 42nd country in terms of speed. Most of them wouldn't get a job anywhere but in politics.

    Even if they got double that money they couldn't manage to do what they say and help people in remote areas. Has anyone got an example of anything they've done that's gone to plan or been within budget? NO.

    They just want to employ more people and set up groups that suck our taxes and they won't deliver jack.

    Reply

  • Jimmy, 23rd June 2009.

    I cannot get fiber optic broadband where i live but i do not live in a remote area.
    I live above a shop (in lincoln). People across the road get high-speed broadband though. Everyone who lives above the shops near me cannot get proper broadband. We get it through our phone line, supposed to be 6 meg (what a joke more like 1-2 meg). They won't provide us with proper broadband because it costs them too much to run it with only 8 houses in our block.

    So the idea of paying more money on my bill to pay for everyone else that can and speed up their connection is a bit of a joke. If 10 per cent of people do not benefit then they should not have to pay this extra tax. Everyone should have access to proper high speed broadband, until they do i think they can shove this idea.

    Reply

  • Wendy Webster, 23rd September 2009.

    How can they possibly be serious in this present day and age and climate?
    We have only just been able to afford the internet and this is purely for our childrens homework as more and more things need to be looked up on the internet. Examiners don't want written papers anymore. How can people find work without the internet as you have to apply on-line! Another way of paying for politicians extra houses ???!!!!

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