Next Generation Broadband Plan Includes Broadband Tax

Its almost certain that a country-wide new generation, superfast fibre optic UK broadband rollout is waiting for its final routine procedures, in the United Kingdom. This is more than clear from the words of Stephen Timms, the Treasury minister who is currently in charge of the Digital Britain implementation that a broadband fee of GBP 6 per year should have to be paid by every telephone users in the country to help fund the next generation fibre broadband network rollout across the country.

Timms, along with the de-facto kingpin of his group, business secretary Peter Mandelson seems optimistic that the GBP 175 million annual fund that could be raised from the tax, would also be perfect enough to be used to fund comprehensively, the next-generation of superfast fibre optic broadband services in the UK. However, Timms’s plans that would see the tax being levied upon anyone with a telephone line set up in their household, has caused to raise at least a few eyebrows.

The 50p a month broadband tax comes as part of a number of the recent Digital Britain report recommendations that was compiled by Lord Stephen Carter, the energetic predecessor of Timms. The Digital Britain report was compiled with a view to carry the country towards a different and elevated status in terms of the application of internet technology. It is also worth mentioning here that this report also pledges the delivery of a universal broadband speed – although as low as 2Mbps – by the year 2012.

Although, rumours had been rife in the recent months, regarding the shelving of the broadband levy or leaving it to the next government that emerges after the general elections due for early next year, a recent statement by Timms tends to nullify all those. The statement of Timms was all about a promise that the concept was full steam ahead and nothing had been derailed.