Digital Britain broadband tax to become law

The UK’s Minister for Digital Britain, Stephen Timms, has confirmed that the so-called ‘broadband tax’, proposed as part of the government’s plans to fund nationwide access to high speed broadband, will become law before the next general election.

Speaking during a debate organised by the BCS Chartered Institute for IT, Timms said the tax would be presented before Parliament as part of the Finance Bill. If enacted, every household with a fixed-line telephone will have to pay the £0.50 (€0.56) tax.