TalkTalk has called Government plans to give free computer and broadband access to low income families "deeply muddled thinking" as other proposals will see them having to pay out for the privilege.
The ISP has become very outspoken when it comes to the Government's funding for updating the UK's broadband infrastructure specifically the broadband tax which is currently going through a 12-week investigation and it believes previous initiatives are diminishing the benefit of any scheme like this.
"The Prime Minister's announcement that 270,000 low income families will receive a free computer and free broadband access betrays some deeply muddled thinking," the company said in a statement.
"No-one would dispute that getting low income families online is a good thing. But the Government's other initiatives are working to discourage uptake and make internet access unaffordable for hundreds of thousands of other families."
The company is referring specifically to the 50 pence broadband tax on all landlines as well as copyright protection which it claims will cost families an extra 30 a year to stay online.
This could lead to 600,000 "financially stretched" families having to give up their broadband, according to TalkTalk.
"We've always said that the phone tax is regressive and unfair and this latest announcement for all its superficial appeal demonstrates the inconsistency in the Government's approach rather well," continued the statement.
"This tax is not about getting people onto broadband it is about taxing everyone to allow the relatively well-off in rural areas to get super-fast speeds."
-
Westcon-Comstor and Vectra AI launch brace of new channel initiativesNews Westcon-Comstor and Vectra AI have announced the launch of two new channel growth initiatives focused on the managed security service provider (MSSP) space and AWS Marketplace.
-
Third time lucky? Microsoft finally begins roll-out of controversial Recall featureNews The Windows Recall feature has been plagued by setbacks and backlash from security professionals
-
UK regions invited to apply for ‘AI Growth Zone’ statusNews The UK government has opened up bidding for regions hoping to secure 'AI growth zone' status.
-
“Botched government procurement” leads to £24 million Atos settlementNews Labour has accused the Conservative government of using taxpayers’ money to pay for their own mistakes
-
UK government to run Starlink trials in Snowdonia, Lake DistrictNews The government has indicated low-Earth orbit satellites could be key to expanding connectivity to UK businesses
-
Government holds talks with data centre operators over energy blackout threatNews One data centre operator has been preparing to switch over to diesel power in the event of a national blackout
-
HPE inks $2 billion high-performance computing deal with the NSANews HPE will provide scalable on-premises computing to the NSA using Greenlake
-
Three asks Ofcom to limit BT's mobile dominanceNews Three and other mobile operators ask Ofcom again to limit BT's spectrum ownership
-
Broadband not meeting UK consumer expectationsNews Survey finds many unhappy with broadband in the UK
-
Flash flooding takes down TalkTalk web servicesNews Midlands floods leave customers angry at TalkTalk outage
