Steph Peacock MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Media,
Data, and Digital Infrastructure, commenting on Ofcom’s
review of inflation-linked telecoms price rises, said:
“Families facing the Conservative cost of living crisis are
finding it hard to make ends meet, with stagnating wages, and
rising household bills piling pressure on family finances.
“This investigation from Ofcom is welcome, and comes after
Labour’s call for mid contract price rises to be investigated,
and consumer protections in the broadband market strengthened.
“The government and Ofcom must take further steps to review
broadband wholesale costs, and mandate low prices for families on
low incomes to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can enjoy the
opportunities and benefits of being online.”
Ends
Notes:
- In October, Labour launched a three point plan to ease the
broadband bombshell and help families and firms facing cost of
living crisis made in Downing Street.
- Labour is calling for:
- A reversal of changes the
government made in 2019 which allowed regulated wholesale prices
to rise with CPI rather than costs, so that telecoms wholesalers
and internet service providers don’t get a windfall from sky high
inflation whilst families and firms struggle to pay their bills.
- Ofcom to investigate and take
action to strengthen consumer protections including taking action
on mid contract price rises, early termination costs for social
tariff customers, and loyalty penalties where long term customers
pay more than new customers.
- An industry wide social tariff for
low income families. Industry including wholesalers like
Openreach, must work with Ofcom and consumer groups to develop a
mandatory well-advertised broadband social tariff for low-income
families, or the Party will set and legislate for one in
government.
