Responding to the announcement that the Government will open a consultation on a future funding formula for the BBC, Sir Edward Leigh said that reform is "clearly needed" but that the Government must recognise that not all villages have access to high-speed broadband yet.
"It is absurd in the modern world that people can be criminalised for not paying a licence fee just for an entertainment channel," the Conservative Member of Parliament for Gainsborough said.
"I represent a rural constituency," Sir Edward continued, "where many smaller villages and hamlets cannot get superfast broadband."
"If we are to base public policy on the fact that everyone can stream programmes, can we ensure that they actually can stream programmes before any final decisions are made or reforms are implemented?"
We've made immense progress in Lincolnshire but there are still some residences that don't yet have access to high-speed broadband.
— Sir Edward Leigh MP (@EdwardLeighMP) January 18, 2022
I'm open minded on updating the BBC's funding model, but we must remember not everyone has access to good streaming. pic.twitter.com/APKfSqvPFR
