The IPA has welcomed the Digital Britain report, which was released this week with the aim of creating equal access in the digital future for the UK.

As part of the report, it has recommended that the licence fee being paid to the BBC may be shared to other broadcasters.

Geoff Russell, IPA director for media affairs, said: "The IPA has long recommended that the digital switch-over funds ring-fenced in the BBC's licence fee should be made available for other public service activity after 2012 and not automatically become a bonus for the already over-funded Corporation.

"This is an intelligent way of making use of the funds although of course, the BBC will howl to the roof-tops that any top-slicing will compromise its independence.”