Prime Minister Gordon Brown will announce today a new £300m scheme to provide disadvantaged families with broadband access.
Gordon Brown to announce broadband vouchers
Low-income families will receive Educational Technology Allowance vouchers worth between £100 and £700 in a three-year funding programme that will contribute to the cost of broadband, software and computers. Around 1.4m children currently do not have access to a broadband connection at home, according to the government's figures.
In his speech at the Labour Conference in Manchester, Brown will say that the programme will boost children's long-term job prospects, and enable parents to stay in touch with their childrens' schools via email.
"To ensure we are prepared for the times to come, the government will fund one million more households to get online, enabling parents to link with the teachers at their children's school and helping young people with their homework and coursework," Brown will tell delegates.
Comments
JohnBoy 710 said: If they are on low income how Mr Brown are they going to pay for the Broadband connection because that is not cheap
fred said: last lot of free laptops ended up on ebay
danzig said: Yes it will cost billionsIt will cost US billions
Anthony said: pie in the sky If they are on low incomes it is likely they will not have land lines so a 100 pound voucher gets nothing A mini laptop is going to set you back another 300minimum and the service is going to be monthly 100yr Stupid electioneering trying to buy votes It would cost billions
psiops said: sounds good but what is the catch no government has ever done anything without there being a downside for the person involved will it be more tax increase to pay for it or you will have too use a specified broadband provider like say aol just cant see them saying here is some cash go buy a comp and do your school work on it just sounds fishy would be nice though