A report by a newspaper suggests £55m leftover cash from the amount reserved to pay the digital television switchover campaign. The amount kept aside for the switchover was more than the anticipated budget.

Jeremy Hunt, Culture secretary said that the government will use the leftover amount to fund the rollout of broadband in rural areas in the UK. In 2005, Digital UK was given £201m to finance the switchover campaigns that warned people to expect regional TV signals to switch to digital from analogue signals. BBC licence fee had gathered a part of this fund.

Digital UK spokesman said that the TV switchover was going well and they will be able to complete the work in 2012 under the given budget. He also said that they will continue to find new ways to develop the information campaign and save money. ‘

At the same time a spokesperson for Department for Culture, Media & Sport said that although ministers have decided on using the surplus amount from digital switchover to fund broadband in the UK there are specifics things to be finalized.

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