UK Union Fears For Broadband Tax Credit Plan

by Robert Lee, Tax-News.com, London

01 November 2001

The UK Communication Managers Association (CMA) has expressed concern that a tax relief proposal from the the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) to stimulate the wider use of broadband Internet access will be ignored by the government in view of the global economic slowdown and the conflict in Afghanistan.

CMA Director General David Harrington has said: 'Tax credit for suppliers and tax relief to consumers would be very welcome. However, the Treasury will decide on this and it will have to take the view that short-term pain is worth it for long-term gain, and I am not sure it will do so.'

Mr Harrington is an advocate of government intervention to help the broadband market to expand, 'the CMA has long urged the government to seize either the chicken or the egg in order to let demand grow. The free market cannot solve this one; it requires intervention,' he commented.

The Department of Trade and Industry is currently considering the proposal to give tax incentives to broadband; the tax cuts would be similar to those currently enjoyed by the UK film industry which allow the costs of production to be deducted from film companies' taxable income.

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