Government urged to create "social tariff" for broadband

Glasgow has a low broadband take-up

The government has been urged to investigate creating a "social tariff" for broadband access to prevent the digital divide widening as the proposed universal service obligation (USO) for 2Mbit/s broadband is rolled out.

Glasgow North West Labour MP John Robertson launched the proposal after the announcement of the commitment to a USO by 2012 by culture secretary Andy Burnham.

"The city I represent has the lowest take-up of broadband in the UK and making sure socially excluded and disadvantaged people are not left behind must be a central consideration of the strategy," said Robertson, chairman of the all-party Parliamentary Group on Communications.

"Social tariff schemes have not been a high-profile issue in communications but I think this is the direction we will need to go in.

"Requiring broadband to be accessible doesn't guarantee take up which is the key measure - the divide in communications is in large part the financial divide in the country."

Burnham said earlier that one of the objectives was "to ensure fair access for all and the ability for everyone to take part in the communications revolution".

He added that this was "crucial to delivering the government's policy of an inclusive society where new opportunities are available to all and nobody is left behind".