Do you have a “right” to access the Internet?
A couple months I wrote about our government’s plan to spend more than $7 billion - part of the big economic stimulus package - promoting Internet access in rural and underserved areas.
The basic idea is this: People living on farms, in poor inner city areas and sparsely-populated subdivisions need to have access to high speed Internet. Without it, they’ll fall behind the rest of us.
Of course $7 billion sounds like a lot of money. But some experts say that’s just tiny piece of what it’s going to cost to get everyone in this country up to speed, so to speak.
I know some people think this is a waste of money. That there are better things to spend our scarce dollars on.
But have we reached the point where Internet access has gone from luxury to necessity to fundamental right?
The French seem to think so, according this article at ReadWriteWeb. In striking down a French law, the country’s highest court essentially ruled that citizens have the right to access the Internet. The article questions the implications of other countries adopting a similar position. And what it could mean for people who simply don’t have Internet access.
Conversely, are peoples’ fundamental human rights being violated when they don’t have access to the internet? It’s tempting to consider internet access a luxury, but consider the increased quality of life that comes with the huge jump in access to cultural and logistical information the internet brings. We think this is an important opportunity to think about expanding our understanding of human rights.
So which is it? Luxury? Necessity? Fundamental right?
Tim has covered a wide range of topics, including tourism, crime, aviation and gambling, since becoming a reporter in 1990. The Oklahoma native joined the Post-Dispatch in 2007 after spending nine years in Orlando. In his spare time, he's often exploring one virtual world or another. He can be reached at tbarker@post-dispatch.com. 
Good God, what isn’t a right in this country anymore? No, don’t spend our money on this. This is out of control and it does not appear to have an end in sight.
We are now modeling ourselves after the French, that’s pathetic.
It is not a right. I do think that high-speed providers should be stretching their networks to these places, but I’m not in favor of “welfare DSL.” I pay plenty for my service, so should everyone else.
Well it clearly isn’t a right, but it is quickly becoming a necessity. Most banks require you to use their online features instead of tellers if you don’t want to incur fee’s. There are many other similar examples. The main problem is that from a business stand point it doesn’t make sense for the providers. They are not going to spend $1 million dollars to put high speed internet into an area that may only have a few users. I don’t think anyone is saying these people should get “Welfare DSL.” The end user will still pay out the nose like we all do, but should the government help offset the cost to the service providers. I’m all for that, as long as the government is not footing a huge bill while the service providers rake in all the cash that the end users do pay in.
The real question I have is how did they handle this situation with the telephone and electricity? Clearly the same obstacles existed and somehow we overcame those obstacles, why not use the same method?
…….No I don’t think internet access is a right, but as long as we are spending money like drunk sailors I’ll say that I do think it is probably a good idea that over time will pay for itself just like running electric service to rural areas.
Perhaps the best way to get things started would be to partner with the exsisting rural electric cooperatives (who from my experience do a great job).
I do not mean to say that the service should be free, I would just like it to be available.
……..Sorry for the misspelling, I meant “existing”
This is silly as almost everyone has a phone line and can get dial-up service. There is an extra fee where they can accelerate dial-up service to increase speeds. If those people want high-speed internet, let them pay for it, and not the taxpayer.
Welfare is not a right, free healthcare is not a right, and internet is not a right.
Don’t think of it in terms of being a right; think of it as an investment. Why shouldn’t the U.S. make high speed Internet available to everyone? That’s the way to make sure this country stays in front, rather than take the usual route — invent things here, then watch other countries take better advantage of them than we do.
Think BIG!!!
Internet is no longer a luxury in so many cases including businesses and work from home, access is a MUST. On top of that, all the world including almost all job application and resume submissions require internet access. Just about every part of a young person’s life require internet access in order to just get along and even compete in this current world.
High speed Internet access a fundamental right? Ah, no.
There are few areas of the country that do not have cell phone coverage these days. Let them get a laptop and pay for an air card just like I do!
It’s funny. I think I’ve only used an air card once in my life - while visiting a friend, whose main Internet connection had gone down. I don’t remember much about it. How does that experience compare to DSL or faster broadband connections?
I guess we could also get into the subject of what really counts at “high speed” these days.