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The Government is reportedly considering the introduction of an £11 (monthly) “Home Internet Levy” on existing consumer broadband bills to replace the existing BBC TV licence fee. The idea is understood to have been proposed to the Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, by the cross-party Social Market Foundation (SMF) think-tank.
At present a standard colour TV licence fee costs £180 per year, although many view the charge as being increasingly difficult to justify in an age where traditional TV is rapidly losing ground to modern independent commercial streaming platforms. But this presents a problem because public service broadcasters, such as the BBC, remain largely dependent upon the money it raises.
On top of that the government are currently considering plans to switch-off terrestrial TV signals, in either 2034 or 2044, as part of a wider change to reflect the move to internet-based streaming, provided gigabit broadband coverage and take-up is ready to support the transition. Both of these related issues have long been political hot potatoes, which has made it difficult to reach consensus on the best way forward.