Economic benefits of Labour plan to provide free broadband for all

We write to support the proposal from the Labour party for a public programme to provide rapid internet service to the entire population (Broadband ‘communism’? They said that about the NHS, Journal, 19 November). This project would have a high social and economic rate of return, especially at current borrowing rates.

Since it would be socially profitable, the objection that the proposal is an election “giveaway” should not be taken seriously – that is not an objection raised for other infrastructure projects such as airports and motorways.

Arguments from self-interested corporations that a public sector programme would discourage private sector investment should be seen as unfounded special pleading. This pleading also ignores the fact that this network would create many more opportunities for web content providers to profit in a space where something approaching a real market operates, and is, therefore, decidedly selective in its view. Finally, to claim that this is an activity more appropriate for the private sector is a political assertion that fails to take account of the manifest failure of private companies to provide a broadband network accessible to all.
Patrick Allen Chair, Progressive Economy Forum, John Weeks Emeritus professor of Development Economics, Soas, Ha-Joon Chang University reader in the political economy of development, Cambridge University, Danny Dorling Halford Mackinder professor of geography, Oxford University, Susan Himmelweit Emeritus professor of economics, Open University, Will Hutton Principal of Hertford College, Oxford University, Johnna Montgomerie Reader in international political economy, King’s College London, Richard Murphy Professor of political economy, City, University of London, Guy Standing Professorial research associate, Soas, Sue Konzelmann Reader in management, Birkbeck, University of London, Stephany Griffith-Jones Financial markets director at the Initiative for Policy Dialogue, Columbia University, Daniela Gabor Professor of economics and macrofinance, University of the West of England, Natalya Naqvi Assistant professor in international political economy, LSE

• Another example of the decommodification that Ash Sarkar’s article refers to is just outside your front door. In this century broadband is the foundation of a connected society – as roads were in the past. And access to roads is available to all, for free. Of course you need to provide your own equipment to access roads (a car), just as you provide your own equipment to access broadband.
David Rush
Southampton

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