Soldato
- Joined
- 16 May 2004
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- 7,187
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- Derby
I am ok cos I not got a fixed telephone line
new internet tax
- Thread starter mattheman
- Start date
I am ok cos I not got a fixed telephone line
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 27 Sep 2004
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And there was me thinking that the internet stemmed from ARPANET and the militaries desire to have a fault tolerant network...
Should prove sufficient and is sufficient may very well be two different things. It's one of the (arguable) failings of a capitalist society that when the market is small for certain goods or services the market will not seek to provide them as it is not cost effective - it is similar for transport links etc to remote areas. I can obviously see the logic from a commercial point of view but that's not much use for people living in those areas. It's also an example of a good/service where you've got non-exclusivity now with the unbundling of the local loop so very few companies (probably none) are likely to invest in something that other companies will benefit from despite no investment of their own.
So whether companies raise prices or the government levy a duty to create the funds the end result looks remarkably similar - the only difference that may matter is whether philosophically you believe the market should be left to its own devices or not.
Not bothered if this is paid for from general taxation or a special levy on fixed telephone lines, but lets be clear - an investment in Britain's telecommunications infrastructure is long overdue and simply has to happen. I don't know why private companies aren't making the investment themselves, the current situation is ludicrous - many suppliers of questionable quality all competing to provide a mediocre-at-best service.
Because it's not profitable to improve the service in the middle of the country where there arn't enoguh customers to pay for the upgrade.
Why aren't they upgrading the infrastructure in towns where presumably it should be?
Apologies if this has already ben mentioned, but amazing how this coincides with Brown's proposal to give out free broadband and laptops to low income families which they estimate is a budget of around £130 - which was quoted from the link as to what this 50p budget per year will cost us all?
Exact mathcing figures eh?
Does this also mean those who DO get free broadband still be levy to the 50p tax level? through having a hard line fitted for BB?
Food for thought.....
Exact mathcing figures eh?
Does this also mean those who DO get free broadband still be levy to the 50p tax level? through having a hard line fitted for BB?
Food for thought.....
they are, lots of companies are laying fibre/improving lines in profitable areas but this tax is for bringing places up to 2mb speeds.
And as already stated, shouldn't our current costs have incorporated future upgrades etc?
It's also to improve overall broadband speeds once broadband availability has been increased.
Where does it say that?
What company spends money on infrastructure with no return on investment.
Either it comes from central tax, or special tax.
I would prefer a special ring fenced tax myself.
TBH, government should put in a stupidly fast infrastructure that will serve the country for decades. Then rent out the space to private companies. With any profit being reinvested and government budget being slashed every year.
They do.
That's why they are upgrading.
But why should a company pay to increase the line speed of an area that won't ever make it profitable?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8529015.stm
Of course, that doesn't mean that "ultra-fast broadband" has to mean what I think it means, it could mean 4Mb lol.
The don't upgrade it - simple !
Sorry that probably sounds blazé, but i'm failing to see why WE should pay for this? Then again i was always rubbish at economics
We should suspend stopping terror attacks as long as they directed solely at the house of commons and solely when it is full of labour MP's. They would be doing everyone a favoue.
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p.s Tax
TaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTaxTax.......Tax
p.s Tax
What the **** is the point? Fair enough if 56k was still prevalent but even the slowest broadband packages provide enough speed for the average user. If you can stream video without hiccups then that is enough. 10mbps provides our student house of 7 lads and we've got no problems even when people are downloading/streaming.
