UK Broadband Tax To Fight Piracy Proposed

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

02 February 2009

The UK's government is debating the introduction of a GBP20 levy on broadband users to fund a crackdown on digital piracy.

Under the proposal the government would impose the annual GBP20 tax on each household with a broadband connection. The capital raised would then be used to pay the agency responsible for Digital Britain to work as a mediator between the music and film industries and ISP's, relaying data about copyright infringers back to the companies.

The plan was unveiled by Lord Carter in his recent Digital Britain report, which also revealed the government's intention to ensure every household in the UK has broadband access by 2012.

The report comprises a 22-point action plan which outlines a programme of work with commitments to:

• upgrade and modernize wired, wireless and broadcast infrastructure;
• secure a dynamic investment climate for UK digital content and services;
• provide a range of high quality UK-made public service content;
• ensure fairness and access, with universal availability and promotion of skills and media literacy; and
• develop the infrastructure, skills and take-up to enable widespread online delivery of public services.

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