Labour Manifesto

[Paul L]

It all comes down to the same old scenario in the end, private companies do it because they want to make a profit on it and if there isn't a profit in it for them then sod the people that suffer because of it ie. the ones who haven't got broadband because its too difficult to get it there.So what do we do with these people in these areas?, just abandon them or come up with a way to help them?

 

[DPG]

Unfortunately nobody is going run a fibre to every remote farmhouse in the country, government, private or otherwise.

 

[snowhead]

A Labour Government seems to think it could,

 

[Paul L]

I understand that DPG but to me, and it is just my opinion, its indicative of the i'm alright jack and sod the rest of you unsavoury attitude that is running through this country. What wrong with thinking of ways of helping as many people as we can,Oh sorry there's no profit in it for us guvnor so tough luck. I bet all the powers that be have got broadband.

 

[DPG]

I understand that DPG but to me, and it is just my opinion, its indicative of the i'm alright jack and sod the rest of you unsavoury attitude that is running through this country. What wrong with thinking of ways of helping as many people as we can,Oh sorry there's no profit in it for us guvnor so tough luck. I bet all the powers that be have got broadband.

Not really. How far do you want to go? There's a house not that far from me that hasn't got mains power. He was quoted about 35000 to have a feed a few years ago. Should he get that for free as well? Paid for by me and you etc?

 

[Midwest]

I think you're deliberately missing the point MW.
Let's try this way. If the private sector had managed to get fibre to 95% of properties in the UK, then there’d be no need for any government involvement. If it was fair and reasonable priced.
It's not because it's necessary, it's because it's plainly not working.
Hope this helps.

I pay £30 a month for broadband & landline for the household, me & the Missus pay £30 between us for mobile phones. Why can’t we have the later for free as well?

 

[Zerax]

Following on from Paul L's post re public ownership. We're way behind our competitors with fibre broadband. UK has 8% of properties connected, Japan has over 95%, this was achieved by the state, and S Korea has similar with state and private investment. So it's obvious that the free market in the UK is not working regarding this. Broadband is a necessity for any economy nowadays, no one complains about state funding for roads, they're state funded, if they were left to the free market we’d have a lot less roads than we have now.

Andy... you can't compare the UK with Japan... it's a very very different culture ! The reason why we are so far behind when it comes to broadband speeds is that it's all largely owned by BT ! And having worked there myself I can tell you that they are a very very slow, frustrating, bureaucratic and highly protectionist company.

Added to this... we have an incredibly outdated and corrupt planning system in this country. This means that when planning is granted for another 7,500 houses (as has happened in my area recently) there is absolutely no mention in the planning for "all houses to be wired for fibre" !

We don't even insist that all those houses should be oriented for solar panels or have provision for electric vehicle charging !!

Developers only have to mention the phrase "affordable housing" and councils are falling over themselves to say yes to anything !

 

[Midwest]

I understand that DPG but to me, and it is just my opinion, its indicative of the i'm alright jack and sod the rest of you unsavoury attitude that is running through this country. What wrong with thinking of ways of helping as many people as we can,Oh sorry there's no profit in it for us guvnor so tough luck. I bet all the powers that be have got broadband.

If someone chooses to live in the middle of nowhere, why should my Tax payments enable for them to have super fast broadband. I’m all right jack, I leave in the beautiful countryside, you plebs live in the hustle bustle smog filled towns. If you’re running a business that requires such connections, then you would base it where the infrastructure is not available?

Im gonna set up a new watermill company, but like living in the desert. No matter the government can pay.
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Added to this... we have an incredibly outdated and corrupt planning system in this country. This means that when planning is granted for another 7,500 houses (as has happened in my area recently) there is absolutely no mention in the planning for "all houses to be wired for fibre" !

My new build has Super Nintendo fibre broadband, or whatever you call it. Just saying.

 

[andyb]

If it was economically viable then the Private sector would have done it, the fact they haven't means its not. Same with the mobile network.

Thanks Snow. I'm a bit short of time this evening, so you making my point for me is a great help.

 

[Paul L]

My point exactly. £35000 to have a supply installed? An absolute rip off by no doubt a company that is only interested in how much money it can make and not what is best and moral for the customer.

 

[andyb]

Not really. How far do you want to go? There's a house not that far from me that hasn't got mains power. He was quoted about 35000 to have a feed a few years ago. Should he get that for free as well? Paid for by me and you etc?

How much did you pay for yours DPG?

 

[Midwest]

How much did you pay for yours DPG?

Mine came free with the house.

 

[andyb]

Mine came free with the house.

So did mine

 

[Midwest]

So did mine

There yer go, democracy in action.

PS just voted. Was gonna go for the Green Party, but don’t think they’d like my log burner or my Humvee.

Plus it’s Tory heartland, so its pretty pointless. Can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow, pretty exciting errgh?

 

[snowhead]

When you say free, it would have been paid for by the original Builder / Developer.
Utilities have always been expensive.

I was quoted around £3000 for a gas supply run approx 100mtrs from the nearest main main, in 1978, way before privatisation, so nothing to do with shareholders and profit.
I'd only paid £11000 for the house.