In a stunning act of double regression, as The Times reported today “£6 broadband levy may be trebled for homes with multiple lines“, it appears that not only are ministers seeking to tax telephone lines, there is a double taxation hit being lined up in the form of VAT on top of the £6 tax.

It gets worse though – the leaked documents point to an imposte that is closer to a telephone number tax, levied on each telephone line which means families with more than one line in the home get hit harder and as for businesses with multiple lines, the news is not looking good either – hardly welcome in the current economic climate.

“This tax hasn’t even been implemented yet they are already looking to triple it,” said shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt. “

Certainly NGA (Next generation Access) is a major national investment – it is the 4th utility after all!!

What is dubious here is the thinking that taxation and big government redistribution is the right way to ensure NGA will be delivered efficiently, effective and in a timely fashion to everyone regardless of location or circumstances.

There is a better way – think local and empower grassroots community and government from rural parish councils and urban area committees upwards to demand and facilitate NGA in their areas, using alternative tools eg. differential business rates. There is a wealth of useful tools and ideas here at Fibrevolution.com

Perhaps as minister astride Digital Britain and Treasury, Stephen Timms can please explain how the rationale proposed goes beyond tired old tax and spend?