In November 2019 the UK Labour Party promised that if it won a majority in the upcoming general election it would provide free full-fiber broadband to every home and business the UK by the year 2030. Under the plan the government would nationalize the digital arm of BT (Openreach) and provide over 95% of UK residents with broadband. Currently 7% of households in the U.K. have access to full-fiber broadband. The plan would cost an estimated £230m a year and would be funded by a new tax on large technology companies including Apple and Google. Opponents (including the Conservatives, Lib…
Read moreNarrow down the conversation to these participants:
Discussions from these authors are shown:
Political party:
Yes, but with targeted subsidies and investment in infrastructure rather than completely free broadband for all.
Make pricing fairer. Stop companies ramping up monthly prices. And help to those who can’t afford it
@9MZSWW310mos10MO
Yes, but only for families with school aged children, university students and those in reciept of benefits
No but the government needs to invest in developing infrastructure to ensure every household has access to full fiber broadband
They should ensure high speed broadband is available at an affordable coat to all households and businesses
No, but invest in providing availability to all households then subsidise it to a low rate to increase overall productivity
@9T3B49L7mos7MO
The government should create a publicly owned telecommunications company to provide subsidized rates instead
Yes to all businesses as it is impossible to run a business without the internet, and homes based on circumstances
No, only to those who cannot afford it.
@9BWYF872yrs2Y
No, but broadband should be nationliased
@9BSBP7V2yrs2Y
Yes to all UK homes and SMEs
Give to those who cannot afford it
No, not to businesses, only to homes
@94JQTYQ3yrs3Y
No but offer incentives to providers to roll out infrastructure and keep costs low and provide free services for those who are the poorest and or disabled.
@9423G3J3yrs3Y
The government provide free broadband to all UK homes but businesses should have to pay for the service.
Yes but should be means tested
No, It should only be offered to people who can't afford it.
They should certainly subsidise broadband for the poorest and most isolated
@Chris2021Labour3yrs3Y
Yes. In the modern world, access to the internet is a necessity and should be considered a human right.
@8WJ2Y763yrs3Y
Yes, although we should prioritise other things first
@8WGSP8V3yrs3Y
No, but free broadband should be considered for economically and/or socially-deprived regions.
Yes, if they continue the plan for people to work from home post-pandemic
It’s a nice idea in economic boom times but we do not live in an economic boom currently.
No, increase access to fibre broadband in rural areas
No, subsidise private sector network infrastructure development instead
Yes, but only to those who are unable t afford it themselves
@8TC535Y4yrs4Y
No, but provide support to those who need it.
@8SY7KJY4yrs4Y
No, but provide it for the most deprived areas
Only if it provides a better service at a better cost.
Provide to those who cannot afford it
@8SP9QXB4yrs4Y
No but more should be done to make sure people have public access to free WiFi in local libraries or community centres.
@aimeelucyaskins4yrs4Y
Only family’s who are in poverty bla bla bla
Yes, but means tested, and with commercial competition.
No, but create a benefit that allows for fair digital inclusion
Yes, to all households who are of a lower income. to be check yearly. Everyone else should pay but there should be a flat rate for household and another flat rate for businesses.
No, this will cost the government over £50bn as well as remove the incentive of competition between providers to improve and polish their services but the government should provide broadband to families that have children.
No, this will cost the government over £50bn as well as remove the incentive of competition between providers to improve and polish their services.
Yes, but only to those households that prove they cannot afford this themselves
Yes, but speed capped at 20mb, public will have to pay to upgrade speed (introduce it in tiers).
Yes this should be a nationalised service that private companies pay us to provide services on
Yes, only for those who receive benefits
@8S4Q3MN4yrs4Y
yes, but only for households below a threshold
@8S32BJV4yrs4Y
All uk homes and schools not all businesses
Yes but it needs to be means tested so for those on low income
The idea is good as the percentage of people with access to something as simplistic as broadband is too low. However, the cost in the long run deems this as unnecessary
No the government couldn't sustain providing free broadband to everyone. Low income households should be entitled to grants to help support their affordability.
Should be free if they cannot afford it
No, but every home and business should have access to superfast broadband
@Elyspethian4yrs4Y
Increase accessibility to broadband, especially within economically depressed areas.
@8QDM7X74yrs4Y
Yes but only to small businesses, not huge corporations. And it should be the basic package with room to improve if the household wants to pay extra
Yes but only to poor household and small businesses
@8PXWGFG4yrs4Y
Yes they should provide a grant scheme to the poorest in society to be able to access broadband
No but subside it for working families with income of less than £70k a year or where there is a permanent house member working from home full time
Yes, but only where households are unable to pay for it themselves
Only do 50% of free broadband across the uk
@9BXWL5M2yrs2Y
@99LJV7D2yrs2Y
We should work towards the goal of free broadband with a focus on deprived areas and the poorest first
no but there should be a grant to help with the insulation costs
Households yes but businesses no
No, but I think the government could provide financial assistance to families or businesses that genuinely can't afford the full price of broadband. In a perfect world I'd like to believe giving everyone free broadband is wise but the reality is it's not especially with the UKs current economy, we can't afford it
No it should be targeted to low income households and Small Businesses
Yes, but at a cap. If people want faster internet, they pay to upgrade
Yes but if you want better Wi-Fi, pay
Subsidise it. Invest in high quality broadband infrastructure to all homes.
@97X9L2V2yrs2Y
Yes, to an extent. Not all houses, but lower income ones that could not afford any form of broadband without government support.
Give to low income families
@96X5V8M2yrs2Y
Yes, but only to UK homes, not businesses
@96B4GFB2yrs2Y
Yes, but only basic Fibre.
Ensure the people have the money to get modern necessities such as food, heating when needed, medicine, electric and internet
Yes, in deprived areas (e.g. housing estates)
No the government should never be able to have a stake in the free flowing of information
No discounts should be given to poorer families though
Loading the political themes of users that engaged with this discussion
Loading data...
Join in on more popular conversations.