The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills launched a consultation on Thursday on the best way to invest the £1 billion being brought in by the 50p broadband levy. Check it out here.

I did get a bit excited the other day when I read somewhere that Gordon Brown had announced more money to support NGA Broadband rollout.  Upon investigation I realised that it was the money already on the table. A bit of a disappointment but not really a surprise!

What people mustn’t forget that when we say a £billion we mean a £billion over 7 years. They missed a trick here.  Gordon could have announced £2billion over 14 years or 3£billion over 14 years and upped the fifty pence tax to a pound, phased in in seven years time (and so on).

Flippancy notwithstanding it behoves all stakeholders to read the consultation document and respond as appropriate to serve their best interests.