The UK authorities are currently in discussions regarding a controversial scheme which would introduce a tax on search engines, download websites and broadband providers in the UK. The funds raised, which are forecast to be in the region of £100 million year, would be used to fund the rollout of a nationwide broadband network for the UK with the BBC mentioned as a particularly lucrative benefactor.
There is a feeling that the UK authorities, despite putting hundreds of millions of pounds aside for a UK broadband network, are looking to cut back on direct taxpayer investment and instead tax broadband users at source. While broadband users may be open to the idea if the funds used were to be re-invested back into the broadband sector alone, the fact that the BBC, a publicly funded organisation, may be in line to receive substantial income will not go down well. There is a feeling that the Internet, among other modern-day technologies, had forced the BBC to slim down and refocus and the proposals currently under discussion could reverse these recent advances.
It would seem that the government, by hook or by crook, is determined to enjoy a new tax income from the broadband industry at the expense of broadband users and broadband providers.