As a matter of fact, Stephen Timms has revealed his views in an interview given to the technology website Silicon.com. He defended the country’s falling behind many other nations in the world in the broadband speed context stating that the United Kingdom has been over the last ten years consistently closing its notorious gap with the other leading economies in Europe, largely by adoption and take up of digital technology.

Timms further said in reply to the question of the interviewer Natasha Lomas on the United Kingdom still lagging behind even some of the Asian countries besides the US in fibre optic broadband rollout that in contrast to all these countries’ application in the field of fibre optic broadband networks, which had been ongoing since long time back, in the UK the fibre optic commercial broadband rollout by BT has only started recently.

Moreover, the treasury minister also pointed out that the fibre optic service rolled out by BT was more expensive and considerably slower than the 100Mbps fibre broadband service of Hong Kong. As a matter of fact, the fastest download rate BT allowed with its fibre broadband is 40Mbps and the fastest upload rate is 10Mbps (Virgin Media is giving a 50Mbps broadband connection).

Finally, Timms said on the progress of Digital Britain initiative in the United Kingdom that he did not think that the people in the UK have missed the boat, as moving quickly ahead through the lines would definitely yield great results, although to move ahead at full throttle in the broadband segment, public funding was highly required.

On the 50p broadband tax, he said that the broadband internet consumers in the United Kingdom needed to keep on moving, and the broadband tax would have given such a move the necessary foothold required by it.

Timms have once again repeated the regular lines that those areas that would not be covered by the investment by private sector alone, would be provided with high speed broadband internet access with the help of public funding.

Timms further stated that the aim of Digital Britain was to help the United Kingdom to become one of the most technologically advanced, highly skilled and competitive economies in the world. He also revealed that the government would invest some GBP 200 million in boosting the broadband networks of those parts that had nominal or no service at all.

According to the Digital Britain minister, the Scotland market was already delivering advanced ways of connecting consumers to such superfast broadband networks, and the Fibrecity initiative was already providing the homes and businesses in Dundee with a 100Mbps broadband service, through fibre optic lines running beneath the city.

Timms concluded by saying that it was this sort of investment led by the market and backed by government funding, which he wished to see rolled out increasingly, so that all areas of Scotland could enjoy a digital future that was brighter.

In a briefing thrown at an international meeting on dark fibre, the UK Shadow minister for arts, Ed Vaizey has taken the battle to the Labour camps by stating that Labour’s business rates levy policy has resulted in inflicting great damage to the telecoms in the United Kingdom. Later, in another briefing given to Computer Weekly, Vaizey hit out at the business rates regime saying that it was a potential disincentive to the rollout of a competitive and superfast next generation broadband network, since it dated from 1601.

His (Conservative Party’s?) political view is profound and vivid in his lament that hardly any body has come forward to shoulder the responsibility for the rates with authority, even as the responsibility for the business rates was being shared between one too many departments of the government, including the business, skills and innovation department that held the charge of the communications aspect, the DCLG (the communities and local government department) that held the charge of the rating policy, the treasury that is headed by the minister who also takes care of the Digital Britain implementation, and the VOA (valuation office agency).

Vaizey’s remark that they saw the policy being shared amongst a bewildering range of quangos and government bodies, and the claim that came alongside that this was something that he intended to fix, sows the seed of speculation that he might be the man that the Conservatives would assign with the telecommunications department once it gains power. Moreover this one view of the shadow arts minister, obviously overshadows the commitment of the de jury Digital Britain minister as well as that of the de facto minister that are seen going through the motions at present.

Vaizey scores further over his counterpart (s) by playing down the proposals by the Valuation Office Agency to levy the WiMAX and WiFi networks that the proposal was still damaging even though the VOA had claimed that it was simply an extension of the policy that exists. Besides, he also revealed that the Conservative Party was against the government’s plan to slap a 50 pence a month levy on the UK fixed telephone lines. He has cited the view put forward by the TalkTalk chief Charles Dunstone – that the scheme of the government was likely to impede the superfast next generation fibre broadband rollout in the rural UK, for the private investors might anticipate the availability of public funds – to flay the Labour 50p monthly broadband tax plans.

Vaizey also made clear the stance of the Tories that they were looking ahead to an investment scheme that participated every one, and not just BT. He said that this meant that the network of BT should be opened up for other broadband providers as well to run fibre. His further proposals that they would not be tied down to a particular broadband technology, and the most ideal way to boost investment was to encourage competition in the liberal markets, accentuates one aspect. That encouragement of competition would be the prime Tory line.

The shadow arts minister further emphasizes this view by stating that though the fact that the investment in the sector of telecommunications was driven by competition, was also clear that a crucial part in market outcomes was played by the policy and regulation of the government. This is clearly a warning to none but the prominent fixed-line broadband provider operating in the United Kingdom, BT.

Vaizey’s insight on the technology part is also remarkable, perhaps a yard ahead of that of his rivals, Stephen Timms and Lord Mandelson. He acknowledges the significance of the availability of dark fibre in the rollout of the next generation broadband rollout in the UK in the competitive market of his dreams. The essence of the part is in his following statement that they wanted the telecoms regulator Ofcom to perform a complete review of how could dark fibre be delivered to the UK broadband market.

Vaizey’s view that dark fibre backhaul might be of much use in supporting the LLU (local loop unbundling) as the latter could sustain profound network competition in the next generation broadband internet access provision, along with another that for its realization, innovative solutions such as a direct access to digital subscriber loop (DSL) card management or the lesser access to cabinet shelves or racks would be required, sounds quiet reasonable as well as supportive to the main cause.

One part that Vaizey seemed to be conveniently overlooking was the universal broadband speed, which has been a concern for most of the broadband consumers in the country at present. This was also the pitfall that Lord Carter had recognized, but lately and rudely neglected by Mandelson. Nonetheless, the promising show by Vaizey certainly provides food for thought for the broadband experts of the country as well as dreams for the UK ISPs (except BT) and the end users. The sole question that remains unanswered is what would be the role of Jeremy Hunt there?

Timms acknowledges that broadband has become one of the essential service than luxury for the UK people of the late, and it was also improving the country’s commercial, social and economic benefits. The market, according to him, has become more competitive and 99 per cent of the country was enjoying the goodness of the network. However, he also admits that despite many in the country enjoying the benefits of the network, weak services as well as variable broadband speeds apart from the graver fact that many parts of the country were yet to get services, prove to be the spoilsport.

A better broadband for rural Britain has been highlighted by the the broadband fraternity of the United Kingdom unanimously. Under this circumstance it is interesting that Timms has claimed that the government has come up with an agenda of ensuring broadband service to every households and businesses in the country through their Universal Service Commitment. The Universal Broadband plan has been highlighted with a 2Mbps broadband service, which helps the customers to do business at a better pace and learn more effectively. Presently about 2.75 million households that live in remote areas are not able to get this 2Mbps service, which is a demerit according to the minister.

The Digital Britain minister also avers that the government wanted to make it clear that they have taken the 2Mbps broadband rollout in the rural areas the priority work for which they have earmarked a rural broadband rollout fund of GBP 20 million. Tims reveals that the government feels that it is unjust to ignore the rural Britain when urban areas reap the benefits of the broadband revolution. The government plans to set up a small company for designing a model to deliver favorable network at maximum value for its customers, with a view to get the best of the public investment. According to him the best solution was to go in for a fibre connections which is more effective in those areas that are called the cluster broadband notspots.

He claims that the Universal Commitment guarantees that there would not be another problem of digital exclusion as faster broadband networks will be distributed to certain parts of the country. The minister also does not hide his feeling that 2Mbps was not the limit and they were chiefly aiming for a next generation superfast fibre optic broadband network, which would be also be their ultimate goal. Timms has given in the article that he also felt that by the next few years they could rollout a super fast broadband network service to about two thirds of the United Kingdom.

The Digital Britain minister also appreciated the network upgrade works of Virgin Media and the intents of the prominent fixed-line broadband provider in the UK, BT to bring fibre services by 2012 to ten million homes, in the article. According to him, these works performed by smaller networks showed that the United Kingdom was hardly being left behind. Nevertheless, because of the involved high expenditure it was impossible to bring coverage to each rural area without the help of public fund back up and to realise this dream, a positive action was needed from the government, Timms revealed.

Timms also declared that Digital Britain was planning to deliver the next generation broadband service within a decade to nine to ten UK households, and the government was planning to raise the funds by collecting an extra 50p monthly tax on fixed line phone bills. The minister concludes saying that the government also plan to join hands with the community groups to see that the digital divide is bridged.

According to the Business, Skills and Innovation department spokeswoman, the government of the United Kingdom maintained its commitment to the timetable for implementing the 50p monthly levy on all UK fixed phone lines in 2010, as proposed in the Digital Britain report. She had revealed this to The Register website. She also told the website that the government would consult on the “Final Third” fund very shortly, although they have not arrived yet on any final decision about the legislative vehicle for the tax implementation. The words of the business department spokeswoman seemed more a rectification of the statement given by Timms a few hours back, on the broadband tax proposal.

As a matter of fact, Timms had told Sunday Times that he could not definitely commit to any such tax being legislated before next year’s general election. He added that he could not say that for sure. He had also reportedly explained to the journalists that a lengthy bill listing more measures than the popular ones, was unlikely to be pushed through before the general elections in the UK. According to the publication, another of his statements was that the contentious things would have to wait until after the election. It is widely perceived that a finance bill following the budget in March 2010 would contain the tax. However, this would be interesting to watch as the Tories are expected to repudiate the broadband tax of 50p that comes included in the finance bill.

Meanwhile Chuck Doherty, the broadband expert of Broadband Suppliers opined that Stephen Timms could’nt have been more honest in his stating that shelving the tax proposal for the time being was more sensible, for he might have taken into account both the difficulty in gaining support in the parliament to push through with it, as well as the impact it could have on the fortunes of the Labour in the forthcoming general election. However, Doherty plays down the statement put forth by the business department spokeswoman, describing it as ‘mere gimmick’. He thinks that the Business, Innovation and Skills department that currently aspires to take over all other departments in the country, had apparently no other way to go, but to make people believe that they were steady on their course.

Doherty says, “Making people believe that the tax proposal was on its course remained the only way for the department for Business, Innovation and Skills, for this is one department today that takes care of more than its own priorities. Moreover, it must have also realised the ignominy that Timms’ revelations could bring upon them, (even though lately) as that (Timms’ hinting at the shelving of levy) would had definitely triggerred nothing less than a debate even within the Labour. And the subject for the debate would undoubtedly be – Do the government prioritise criminalising the teenage illegal downloaders over the intenet, rather than the prospect of providing a 2Mbps broadband connection to every household in the UK?”