History repeats itself. And SF is dissatisfied with this, as it wants the government to drop its plan to abolish the broadband pool, which will ensure better internet access in Denmark’s outlying areas.
When Minister of Finance Nicolai Wammen (S) presented the government’s proposal for the Finance Act on Monday, it was for the second year in a row with the announcement that the government will abolish the broadband pool, which is approximately 100 million kroner a year.
But it makes no sense, because internet access is still too poor in large parts of Denmark, SF believes.
– Several places in the country still have very poor – or maybe no – internet connection. This is completely unacceptable in a modern world, says Karina Lorentzen, who is SF’s rapporteur for rural areas and islands.
– We risk that it causes house sales to stall, that companies seek away, and growth and development leave the rural areas that do not have access to modern broadband, she says in a press release.
In 2016, the previous V government established the broadband pool with support from the Danish People’s Party, the Liberal Alliance and the Conservatives.
Last year, the pool ended up being retained on the Finance Act after the government agreed with the Radicals, the Socialist People’s Party, the Unity List and the Alternative on a Finance Act agreement.
In the first years of the broadband pool, there was criticism from, among others, the Rural Joint Council.
This was due to the fact that a large part of the funds went to improved broadband in the metropolitan area and the big cities instead of in the suburbs. That was later changed.
SF fears that Denmark will be divided into a digital a- and b-team if the broadband pool is not preserved.
The party points out that the number of people working at home has increased during the corona crisis and that stable internet access is therefore needed.
– If you have to work from home, as many have done during the corona, then it requires that you have access to a proper internet connection.
– Therefore, it is of course a problem that access to the Internet is not just all over the country, says SF’s health spokesperson, Kirsten Normann Andersen.
Link to info about the broadband pool from the Danish Energy Agency
Source: The Nordic Page