Today's Hot Topic (1/9): Is Internet access at home a luxury or necessity?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

 

Spain Declares Broadband A Legal Right
Everyone must get 1 Mbps service by 2011

The country of Finland recently declared they were making broadband a legal right, requiring that all 5.3 million of the country's residents be served by 1 Mbps service by next summer, and 100 Mbps service by 2015. That's a little easier to do in a country like Finland, which has just 5.3 million residents to our 300+ million, and doesn't have to deal with things like, well, Montana. Spain too this week has decided to make 1 Mbps broadband for all a legal right by 2011, expanding their universal service fund to help fund deployment into coverage gaps, according to Reuters:

Until now, the "universal service" has only guaranteed internet via telephone line, fixed telephone, directory service and telephone booths. . .Adding internet to the universal service would increase the future cost of the universal service. The yearly calculations of the cost of the service take about two years to complete. Consumer group FACUA said it welcomed that broadband internet would finally be a right but said the speed was insufficient and the measure should be introduced before 2011.

1 Mbps may not be much, but even such base proclamations are more than the United States government has been capable of. That's expected to change in 90 days, when the FCC finally unveils their national broadband plan to Congress, who'll then have to vote to actually act on it. Like Spain, our plan will likely include using the Universal Service Fund (USF) to fund broadband, but given that program's history of dysfunction, that would be easier said than done. The FCC only recently decided that it might be a good idea to track how USF funds are actually used, if that gives you a good idea of the program's nature.

 

* * *

 

Should Internet access be provided to all homes in our country?

 

Is Internet access at home a necessity or a luxury?

 

 

[Mergath]

I certainly wouldn't consider internet access a necessity.  The only things I really consider necessities are food, water, shelter, and education.  I would love to see everyone in the world have internet access, though.  It's a great way to help prevent oppression and exploitation, and is a wonderful educational tool.

[Mandipants]

Quoting Mergath:

I certainly wouldn't consider internet access a necessity.  The only things I really consider necessities are food, water, shelter, and education.  I would love to see everyone in the world have internet access, though.  It's a great way to help prevent oppression and exploitation, and is a wonderful educational tool.

Mergath, Damnit. Stop taking the words right out of my mouth

[stormcris]

If your Internet connection is how you put food on the table it is a necessity otherwise no.

However, I do think everyone should be able to have the Internet, because it opens up opportunities...both good and bad.

[acrogodess]

It's easy for people to say that the internet is a luxury when they do not have to constantly use it to check for work, their schedules, put in job applications. Yeah you can go to the library but when your job application requires a 45 minute test and you are only granted a half hour of internet access at the library, it just doesn't work. Now and days, internet access is a necessity.

[allycally]

Sorry to go here,,but healthcare is still a luxury, so it would be nice but will never happen

[rosepetal209]

I think its a luxury but my kids schools act like its a necessity. They keep sending my kids home with assignments that require an internet connection. I always ask them "What would happen to you and your grade if we didnt have the internet?" and they reply "C'mon mom, everybody has the internet now".....but I know several people who have been hit so hard in this econemy that they have had to let their internet go to npay for nother things.

Personally I know I wouldnt die without internet, Id be bored but not dead. A necessity is food, clothing and a roof over my head!

[miss146mn]

I keep hearing about how it's needed more and more for education.  My son isn't quite 2, so I don't have any first hand experience.  I would guess their time needs would start small and could maybe be filled at the library, but what about when every class, or most classes are requiring Internet access.  It really boggles my mind right now, lol.

I really feel it's a luxury, but I'm lucky enough to have it and not necessarily need it.

Quoting rosepetal209:

I think its a luxury but my kids schools act like its a necessity. They keep sending my kids home with assignments that require an internet connection. I always ask them "What would happen to you and your grade if we didnt have the internet?" and they reply "C'mon mom, everybody has the internet now".....but I know several people who have been hit so hard in this econemy that they have had to let their internet go to npay for nother things.

Personally I know I wouldnt die without internet, Id be bored but not dead. A necessity is food, clothing and a roof over my head!

[katy_kay]

No, it definitely is not a 'right' and it isn't a necessity.  Yes there are situations where one may have a need for internet access, (they work from home, they do online school, etc) but as much as I like my time on the internet I know that my life would not suffer without it. 

[anxiousschk]

I'm sorry..but it's a luxury.  A big one.  Our library provides it for free.  Getting a library card is free, using the internet is free.  Printing has a small fee attached.  Very small.  I know people who do not have the internet in their homes and they make do.  It is a frustration for them, yet they do just fine. 

A big, fat luxury. 

[PestPatti]

It's a luxury, plain and simple..