Revealed this week, a tax increase of 50p may become law for UK taxpayers that will go towards a fund to fuel growing development for the infrastructure of Internet networks throughout Britain.Appearing as part of the Digital Britain Report, the increase would be aimed at providing suitable internet connections across the United Kingdom to millions of homes, some which still have no viable connection. Stephen Timms, minister for "Digital Britain", will put forward the tax as part of the Finance Bill. It is said the new Tax would raise approximately £175 million a year that would be used to create and improve existing networks.
Adding to the report, Timms stated "We want to make high speed networks nationally available. The next-generation fund will help that and we will legislate for it this side of a general election," reaffirming the goals that would be set out for money that would be collected from the 50p tax.
Timms was also kind enough to set the record straight on the Digital Britain report that had been reportedly "derailed". Replying to BBC News, he states "Nothing has been derailed. It is full steam ahead."
However, it is expected that other parties will criticize the new bill. John Wittingdale, a Tory MP and part of the DCMS (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) committee stated "I'm confident the Conservative party will oppose it. I object to it on the basis that it is another tax and is aimed at people who are using old technology."
Lord Mandelson has also had a hand in building the report on Digital Britain, most noticeably on illegal file sharing, which is rumoured to include removing certain users who continue to download and share illegal copies of digital media.
The BBC also has no authority to tax and enforce laws. Whatever source you're quoting is wrong.
Your quote is a bit incorrect though.
Just owning a TV is not enough to have to pay the fee.
You have to actually use it to watch live broadasts.
The TV licence is kind of a tax for sure. And you britons don't complain too much, you probably get the best quality of TV in the world.
bingo
in a year everyone will forget about it and not even follow up on the matter
What's next ?
AIR!!!
It will happen.
Probably because of people like you who don't know how to spell and use the word gay as insults. Then again, maybe not
Oh they are. They are very happy. After all, they're made of money.
+1 to that, I don't know what everyone seems to be moaning about
I have Fibre Optic, It is Called Virgin Media.
They have paid to upgrade there network. Other providers should pay too.
Don't see why the Public should be paying for it.
They have paid to upgrade there network. Other providers should pay too.
Don't see why the Public should be paying for it.
That's all fine and well when you're in a Virgin Media cabled area, what are your options of your not aye?
Yeah, and it nearly bankrupted them.
Also don't forget the virgin media network has many blackspots and areas where it doesn't cover. There is no way one company could fund a national fibre optic network.
They have paid to upgrade there network. Other providers should pay too.
Don't see why the Public should be paying for it.
That's not what the tax is for, though...
I'm for it!
Can't stand Mandelson, had to resign twice but is back again like a bad penny. Even worse he's not even elected and what the hell did he do to become a Lord apart from mixing in the right circles?
How long before it starts to go higher and higher before it's at, or close to, the price of the tv tax? Once a tax is put on the books, it rarely, if ever, goes away. British subjects have been paying that BBC tax since 1922.
You can see this with governments all around the world. Tax here, tax there and it becomes seemingly worse when governments decide to have these "stimulus" packages and giving away money. Of course someone has to pay for this and usually it's the hard working taxpayer which is hit double hard as the government wants to make a profit. They tax cigarettes and alcohol on the basis that it's bad for you and their trying to help. Health tax they call it. Well hello obesity; tax fast-food chains like McDonalds and Hungary Jacks because that's certainly not healthy for you. They'd tax all the pleasures in life if they could like driving and its thousands of dollars in bills in regos.
Then there's this "global warming" crap. What is it? I'll tell you what it is, it's another tax grab called "carbon trading". God this is ridiculous. If your a fan of paying more tax for the environment then shame on you. What about the families that are already trying to scrape past each week eagerly awaiting their next pay check? Food prices up, petrol prices up. Hell, everything will go up as companies are forced to pay the government to "trade-off" carbon. I'm all in for the environment. We grow our own herbs, have ducks and chickens, a compost bin, rainwater tank, waste-water system, solar hot water and our house is insulated. This was even before all that crap about global warming. All this really is, is an opportunity for the government to tax us hard-working people and spend it worthless projects which never work and have a massive budget blowout.
Yes, I know governments need to make money from somewhere but it's getting over the top where the average person can't enjoy life anymore, homelessness shoots through the roof and the cost of living is just isn't affordable no more. Instead of spending tax on useless things, why not spend more on improving the "quality of life" like health care, education, recreational facilities etc and also spend more to help us uni students like youth allowance for everyone.
That was fun
Last edited by Billus on 25 Sep 2009 - 23:06
But didn't you see Michael Moore's new movie? Capatalism is evil, man. LOL, j/k Moore is an idiot.
NO one was meant to be insulted by this post. And if you were....7-UP Yours!
I guess the news label it as such because as part of the 'Digital Britain' report, it will go towards getting the entire of Britain including rural areas online at a minimum of 2Mbps
Only 33% will end up being used for it's purpose.
Lord Mandelson is a wealthy moron.
I bet he will use his expense account to pay his.
You get what you vote for and I hope you Labour supporters are very happy!
Help for people in rural areas, in nice houses with shed loads of land and more than l likely oodles of money in thier bank.
Oh well, another tax on the less well off to help the rich, sounds about right for the UK stitchup institute commonly known as the Government!
You do realised people in the countryside have more land because it costs a fraction of the price when its agricultural land that you cannot build upon. You can buy a whole field for a few thousand pounds, but that's all its worth.
Also land you can build upon is cheaper and also house prices are much lower. Council tax is again much lower (maybe half in a town to that to in a city) because they have less access to services.
Obviously though wages are less, so its not all positive.
If you want to move to a rural area feel free, its not a closed society of the rural people not letting you move.
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