unclebuck

I knew they would try something like this sooner or later. Before the next general election (the f*ckers) :


BBC NEWS | Technology | Broadband tax 'to be made law'

hodgy0_2

which when you think about it is just a tax on **** - a w4nk tax if you will

BlkKnight

^^

OK 50p a month isn't much. . . .

But you don't have to have BB if you have a phone line. Equally, you can have BB through your mobile device without having a land line.

Not very well thought out

unclebuck

That's just the start of the slippery slope. Greedy Gordon Lop Eye McBroon will soon raise it to £10 a month.

Don't be taken in - it must be vigorously opposed.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

"fixed telephone line"

Hmm, ok I'll just have Virgin cut off my phone line.....the broadband will still work as it doesn't use the phone line

Failing that, I also have an unlimited 3G contract so Brown you useless PM.

Anyhoo, this so called "tax" would only be justified if our internet/wired communications infrastructure were nationalised. Its not, its a private network, so how can you be allowed to tax a private infrastructure? Oh sorry, I forgot socialist idealogies don't apply when said middle-left wingers are running a capitalist economy

jjones

and once it's in place how long does it stay at 50p??

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

And how long will it be before you have to buy a license to use it.....

Its not like you have to buy a license to do everything else

what would scooby do

wimax = no tax.

Microwave cells are looking really good for gaming and voip at the moment - very low latency

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

I cannot believe that this gov will allow them to use part of the EM spectrum without having to pay massive license fees. Just look at the costs of the 3G licenses.....ie tax

Low latency sounds good though

Will

What a bunch of ******* the govenment are

tanyatriangles

iTrader: (2)

Editted for accuracy

jonc

The point is, this tax is supposed to raise £175m per year to fund highspeed networks. However, the "network" is currently not government funded or subsidised and has no part in the maintanance or upgrade to the lines and exchanges. it's privately owned by BT. So is the Gov' going to give all the money raised to BT to upgrade the lines and exchanges? and if this tax applies to everyone with a fixed phone line, how can they charge a broadband tax to those with a fixed line but no broadband?

boomer

The stupid government can't even get its maths right

There are around 26M households in the UK, so times 6 quid, and assuming that EVERYBODY is already using broadband - they are £20M short of their target!!!

In reality there are currently only 18M households with Internet access (see National Statistics Online) and they don't all have broadband anyway - so they are actually nearly SEVENTY MILLION POUNDS SHORT!!!

So, Minister for Digital Britain Stephen Timms, exactly what planet do you come from???

mb

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

A planet that says if we introduce it at 50p now no one will moan too much then we can ramp it up later. Not so stupid after all is he?

Leslie

Yes but can we really expect no further taxes anyway? This is just a drop in the ocean compared to what we will have to pay, all designed so they can continue to **** our money against the wall on useless items as far as the country is concerned! Their mantra is "Spend spend spend", as long as it is someone else's money!

Les

ronjeramy

iTrader: (1)

Tax, tax, tax, tax, tax, tax, tax, tax, tax, that's all this fooking Government does and yet the country is in financial mess

speedking

It doesn't just apply to people with Internet access, or broadband. It is all fixed lines. The article doesn't actually specify domestic, so perhaps businesses are included too!

Tax take = £5000m less £3000m to pay off the national debt, less the cost of collection, establishing standards for implementation etc, say £1825m leaving £175m to actually spend on the networks (NB These numbers may not be exactly correct, but you get the idea.)

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

They can spend the money they get on whatever they want.........there is basically no such thing as hypothecated taxation here in the UK (Road Fund Licence and National insurance are not true dedicated taxes).

They will simply take the money and pi$$ it against the wall

Shaun

SJ_Skyline

On the plus side, it will buy a lot of ducks houses and widen several moats.

r32

Its just another damn tax, what ever next?
I'll not pay, just use a mobile

Lee247

All households in Britain with a phone line will pay a 50p a month tax to pay for a broadband internet network to be built across the country, Alistair Darling has said in his Pre-Budget report.

So, if you don't have broadband you still have to pay the tax. Am I reading that right

SunnySideUp

50p a month isn't bad for megafast internet connection speeds

Lee247

Pre-Budget report 2009: 50p broadband tax - Telegraph

Not for us out in the sticks folks. I'll just have to put my laptop in your shed and connect from there

SunnySideUp

Mr Darling said the government would provide super-fast broadband to 90% of the UK by the end of 2017.

The remaining 10% probably haven't got electrickery yet anyway

GlesgaKiss

Next up, an inhalation tax. 1p a breath of air.

Snazy

Alan !!
Dont give them ideas please.

I dont know why they dont just take the frickin total amount they need from money earners in this country and slap the whole lot on income tax. Like 90% income tax, lol. They at least there would not be millions of various stealth taxes lol.

Then each week/month the government can issue us all pocket money to spend.

Leslie

When it comes to more taxes, we ain't seen nothing yet!

Les

SunnySideUp

Very peceptive, Les.

We have seen NOTHING yet - you lot wait until/if the Tories get into power .... you will think labour were a stroll in the park compared to the horrors waiting in the Eton Boyz Budget Box!

scrappydoo

What planet are you on eh? Our country has been wrecked. The stuff i see proposed for our future would make you shake in your boots. The way i see you lot fighting on here and in opositon makes me sick tell truth. Meanwhile they pass the laws in secret. Our future is being shaped right now for their agenda. Mark my words. You think its tight now??? then you aint seen anything yet.

SunnySideUp

I live on Planet 'Sense and Experience'

Country hasn't been wrecked - no more than every other country in the world.

What stuff do you see which will make me shake - details please.

They pass laws in Secret - details please, as I don't think they can do that.

Future being shaped right now - yes, that's what good Governments do.

I agree we ain't seen nothing yet, the pain is yet to hit us.

I would appreciate answers to my questions above, thanks.