Yes you read that right. We already know that the UK Government are keen to see fast internet speeds rolled out across the whole of the United Kingdom. Now we learn that in order to pay for that, each and every household with a fixed phone line will have to cough up an extra 50p per month.
The plans to introduce the tax were outlined in the Digital Britain report published only yesterday and new culture secretary Ben Bradshaw told the House of Commons that the 50p a month would help to pay for the next generation broadband for 90 percent of the population.
It might not sound much but that’s not the point. The £6 per year per telephone user will generate up to £175 million a year and you’ll have to pay whether you like it or not.
Yes it’s true at the moment that Cities and Towns benefit from faster internet whereas those living in more rural areas have to put up with appallingly slow speeds but the government want everyone to have broadband of at least 2Mbps in the next two years. Yes, 2Mbps, what planet are they on, do they really think that will be enough?
Lord Carter, the communications minister, said that the Digital Britain Report was “not specifying a ceiling, but specifying a floor” and added “we are not saying that 2Mbps is the height of our ambition”. Thank goodness for that then.
He also acknowledged that the extra cash will put further stress on consumers who are already feeling the effects of the current economic downturn. Err yes, so why add to that?
The thing is it would be ok if it was for our benefit but is it?
Well actually no, not really. The government intends to put more and more public services online so it is really in their interest that we all have internet access and that we pay for it too, although the ten percent who currently cannot access broadband won’t complain I’m sure.
But is the 50p levy just another stealth tax? Forums across the country are already awash with people complaining that it is. What do you think?
Gordon Brown commenting on the Digital Britain report said “Britain is going to lead the world”. If 2mbps is all we can expect in the remoter parts of Britain then somehow I don’t think so.
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Its good that the government are taxing, but i am sure that we are not going to get a single benefit from this. If it was for our won benefit it was very fine but it isn’t.