The Conservative Party would ensure at least half of Britons had
access to
high-speed broadband within five years, and would make it a
universal service as soon as possible after that.
Jeremy Hunt, the shadow culture secretary, said this morning,
"This is achievable and we will be accountable for it."
High-speed broadband is essential if Britain is to take
advantage of the potential of its creative sector, he said.
A Conservative government would aim to encourage the private
sector to invest in very high speed (more than one gigabit/s)
networks. The party is reviewing specific incentives but it would
include a combination of deregulation and economic incentives.
Deregulating BT's OpenReach ducts so others could put in fibre
to the home would be one option, he said. He would also encourage
local councils, who are responsible for planning, to co-ordinate
street repairs so that fibre could be laid, and to permit fibre on
existing telegraph poles.
He saw a role for government in co-ordinating the creation of
interface standards so that local fibre, cable and wireless
networks could combine to ensure citizens had access to high-speed
networks.
He said a low tax regime might be needed to encourage investment
in both infrastructure and new businesses. Regulation and tax were
the two biggest causes of failure among small businesses, "and most
creative businesses are small businesses," he said.
Hunt said the Conservatives would support Lord Carter, who is
due to present his report to government on how best to support a
faster broadband market, but only if he made "concrete
recommendations".
Hunt said the government had already produced four reports on
broadband and another two are due this year. "We have had enough
words. We need action," he said.
The creative sector is already contributing 7% of GDP, second
only to finance. It was essential for the creative sector to
replace the financial sector and the property market as economic
drivers, said Hunt.