Six quid a year tax for broadband
British homes that have a landline already installed will be charged an extra?6 pounds every year for the new broadband tax to enable the government reach its goal of providing broadband connections to every home in Britain.
The tax is meant to help the government fulfil their goal of spreading 2Mbps broadband connections to about 90% of homes by the close of 2017.
Chancellor Alistair Darling announced the tax as part of his pre budget report that stated this would help modernize the digital infrastructure in Britain while also creating new jobs across the country.
Darling also stated that although the government has allocated funds to help bring broadband to remote and rural areas, it now wants to work towards the nobler goal of bringing broadband into 90% of British homes.
While the announcement seems like a step forward, it has brought a great deal of cynicism with it from those who do not believe they should have the pay the tax and others who think the tax alone will not be enough to fund the effort.
The major broadband provider TalkTalk has commented that the tax is not fair and that it will keep private companies from being compelled to invest, while BT is worried that the revenues created from the tax will not be enough to get broadband into all the homes in England
