http://spedr.com/2a742
So, the news reaches us this morning that Mr. Timms is planning to present the £6 phone levy the the House of Commons in a finance bill following the end of Party Conference silly season. If it is ratified then we should be able to access it in 2010.
Great! Really... great!
Why? Well, because I want to take advantage of it. I want to apply for funding for my community broadband project and hope that I will be eligible for access to this fund (assuming BT don't get it all for the PR disaster that is BET!).
Perhaps this is the reason so many are against the 'tax'. When we pay a tax we want to see a return from it - that's why we are generally OK with our income tax and council tax and even VAT and why there is opposition to things like the stamp duty (what is that for anyway???). There will be a great many who will pay this levy but will not see a direct return on it - for example those who live in rural areas that will not benefit from the network upgrades from BT, Virgin or others.
So, if you are in that position should you oppose the bill? Should you lobby your MP and demand that it is not passed? Of course - if that is what you feel motivated to do but before you put furious pen to paper ask yourself one question - "Is there any way I could benefit from this tax?"
I would argue that the answer to that question is invariably "yes" but that also demands you take action - this time with far more positive results.
Wednesday 23 September 2009
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Another great post, and from a fellow Jedi who is JFDI for his community. I do hope you are right and the money won't go to an incumbent who just wants to milk the legacy copper instead of investing in the future of this country.I don't mind paying the levy if the money is put to good use. I can't stand waste of any kind, and BET is a BAD BET.
ReplyDeletechris