British netizens who are already paying through the nose for broadband will no doubt be irritated to learn that a new “broadband tax” will be introduced in the next budget.
Chancellor Alistair Darling has announced that the 50p per month tax will be added to the bill of every household with a fixed line telephone. Given that many broadband users have to keep a landline in order to use the Net, even if they don’t make phone calls with it, this will be sure to raise a fairly substantial revenue.
The £6 (about $10) per year tax will be used to fund “super fast broadband”, particularly in rural areas which could otherwise miss out.
The Government wants 90% of the population to have access to this super-fast-but-unspecified-speed broadband by the end of 2017.
Who said the Government doesn’t move fast?
The opposition Conservative party have said that they will scrap the tax if they win the next election.
Brits already pay a heavy price for their broadband, and often don’t get decent speeds, so having to pay more probably won’t be welcomed.
Unfortunately, consumers are likely to end up paying for improved broadband whoever ends up pushing for a better service.
So we’ll have to pay £6/year to help ISPs roll out 2MB (super fast broadband in the UK!) lines to the Highlands, areas where previously ISPs would say that the cost too high is to envisage a decent ROI.
Don’t we already pay enough taxes to help the development of the country? Also, wouldn’t it make more sense to only aim for expansion of mobile broadband anymore. Improve to 7Mbps and expand countrywide. Then I can at least be connected next time a go for a week to the Lakes!