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Cafés and service stations that offer wi-fi worry rates may increase
09 November 2009
Speculation is rife about the impact of wi-fi as The Times recently reported that the government agency that determines business rates has said that it will take wireless broadband networks into account when conducting assessments.
The move by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has raised fears among owners of businesses, such as cafés and service stations, that offer wi-fi access to customers that their rates may increase.
The agency said that its valuation officers were working "proactively in approaching wi-fi operators to ensure they have accurate information on all wi-fi sites".
It insisted that there had been no change in its ratings policy, but concerns remain that businesses could be penalised - in the form of higher business rates - for providing a service that the Government has encouraged.
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