Labour and the Conservatives share the common view that the UK should invest in the roll-out of super-fast fibre optic broadband, but have taken different views as to how best to fund the broadband investment.
Labour favour a traditional taxation approach, proposing a £6 pa broadband tax for all home phone using households. The broadband tax would be used to fund the “universal broadband commitment” of ensuring up to 2 Mbps broadband access for all by 2012, and the subsidized roll-out of high-speed internet via fibre-optic broadband network.
The Conservatives favour a subsidized approach to improving broadband access and broadband speeds, but via re-directing the BBC license fee.
As Parliament hangs, the broadband plans remain in limbo. This is against a broadband market that is desperate for change if the goals for broadband access and broadband speed are to be reached. Average broadband speed in the UK remains around 4.5 Mbps, which is still way down the world broadband speed rankings and a real cause for concern.
The experts believe that even when a coalition government is formed, the confusion will be such that legislation will be slow to be passed, which is bound to affect less central issues such as the broadband taxation/subsidy plans.
So watch this space as we bring you news as soon as its available to the future direction of broadband policy in the UK.
In the mean time you can compare broadband deals on our website.