A number of the UK's leading broadband providers have joined forces to condemn an amendment made to the government's digital economy bill.

Virgin Media, TalkTalk and BT are among the firms that have published an open letter in the Financial Times outlining their opposition to amendment 102A, which would see providers block a host of websites featuring copyright infringing content.

The bodies behind the letter have suggested that such a move would have a major impact on the future of the internet, freedom of speech and the work of many businesses.

"This debate has created tension between specific interest groups and the bigger prize of promoting a policy framework that supports our digital economy and appropriately balances rights and responsibilities," the letter added.

Andrew Heaney, Executive Director of Strategy and Regulation at TalkTalk, spoke out on the amendment last week, claiming it would not address the fundamental concerns of the firm's customers.