UK ISP's and mobile operators have reacted angrily to new proposals from the Association of Independent Music (Aim). The group is seeking to make providers financially responsible for music piracy instead of suing individuals, possibly resulting in higher end-user prices:

The suggestions included building on the legal file sharing model, and introducing some form of collective licensing similar to the current UK radio licence. Licensing would allow ISPs to host file sharing for a fee that would go to record companies and musicians.

The charges could even cover hardware, such as Bluetooth devices, that can be used to transfer music files.

Brian Aherne, a spokesman for the Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) called the plans "ill-conceived", and said that the industry would resist any attempts at implementation.

Naturally ISP's see the move as being little more than a hidden tax on their services, with neither mobile nor Internet providers having been consulted beforehand.

Not to mention the fairness aspect of such a thing towards Internet users who don’t download music, legally or otherwise. Should their costs be forced to rise because of those that do so illegally?

It's not as if ISP's support illegal downloading either, indeed it impacts their bandwidth in a negative fashion and many attempts have been made to stem the problem. More @ VNUNet.