Internet for All

Cities and towns should all be outfitted with high–speed (fiber optic) internet connections that are disseminated via WiFi networks to all residents. The government could purchase wireless hardware from manufacturers in bulk quantities and sell it to citizens directly to ensure low costs to consumers and uniform compatibility and upgradeability.

Comments

infzy — 2010–05–11 17:54:56 EDT wrote

I'm not sure that the government should be limiting consumer choice of wireless hardware by deciding for itself which products to subsidize.

Jaheckelsafar — 2010–05–12 16:59:44 EDT wrote

On a municipal level, I agree. Perhaps a fund should be made available to municipalities to help subsidize this. However, ISPs have to be able to compete. We should not drive them out of business. Maybe limit the speed of the network to something not suitable for streaming video. That should give the ISP some wiggle room for better service that someone would be willing to pay for.

R — 2010–05–15 14:04:29 EDT wrote

Data usage will increase as soon as we open the vans and that's a good thing, I don't think we should limit it in this way.

We need to think forward and realize that real time high bandwidth cooperation is the future and everyone should have access to it for social and economical reasons.

A 2^nd tier public infrastructure has no use at all except maybe as a major catastrophe backup network…

So ISP should definitely be allowed to compete but by using the public network equally.

saneconsulting — 2010–05–18 20:44:18 EDT wrote

I respectfully disagree. WiFi does not provide adequate bandwidth for a large number of users in a multipoint configuration such as that which you have suggested. Additionally, there needs to be a better method for free markets and capitalism to flourish. Governments should focus on GOOD POLICY and let consumers and the markets decide who provides the best solution. Of course in order for market forces to be effective we need adequate competition, which in many cases does not currently exist.

However, there are significant opportunities for WiFi to supplement ultra high–speed fibre networks. Indeed, all the best wireless networks require a robust fibre backbone to deliver high quality services.

frodad — 2010–06–07 13:06:19 EDT wrote

By bringing in government owned or subsidized internet hardware, we would limit competition. In fact this sector needs country–wide competition so the prices can come down and ultimately benefit all of our citizens.