What are your thoughts on this? High-speed Internet access has become an expecta

Question

What are your thoughts on this?

High-speed Internet access has become an expectation for those of us who live in metropolitan areas, but many citizens of our state and our country live in remote areas where high-speed Internet access is either very expensive or not available at all. Some are arguing that this technical disadvantage for those who live in rural areas also presents an economic disadvantage which results in "the rich becoming richer and the poor becoming poorer".

Some industrialized countries have declared high-speed Internet access to be a fundamental right of their citizens and have taken steps to ensure that networks with sufficient bandwidth would be within reach of nearly all of their citizens. In fact, according to two 2009 articles on CNET (http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10374831-2.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.) and MSNBC.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30386419/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/t/estonia-build-high-speed-internet-network#.TpiYopusc7I (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.), Finland and Estonia are currently working to have 100Mbps access speeds available to practically everyone within their borders by 2015.

Should having high-speed internet access be a fundamental right? According to a 2010 article by BBC News, many people believe that it should be, but what do you think about this issue? And related to this issue, should governments require providers to offer Internet access options to those who live in remote areas at the same prices as those paid by those who live in or near major metropolitan areas, essentially raising the majority's cost of Internet access?

Explanation / Answer

Answer)

Just like the right to be having a bank account and banking services in a rural and remote area in the country, it should be a fundamental right of having access to a high-speed internet access connection in the country even to the remote areas. As we see this creates disruption in the public if people in rural areas and far off areas are not having access to the same high speed broadband and internet services as the cities. This will certainly hamper their sentiments as does like access to clean water, power, banking services etc.

Thus they would be led to believe that the rich becoming richer and the poor becoming poorer. Thus this is a technical disadvantage for those who live in rural areas also presents an economic disadvantage in the sense that the area cannot be developed and connected to the rest of the world as well as it should be. For example here now, Finland and Estonia are currently working to have 100Mbps access speeds available to practically everyone within their borders by 2015. Thus this is a very logical approach and yes, having high-speed internet access should be a fundamental right.

Of course, the government has to take actions so as to offer Internet access options to those who live in remote areas at the same prices as those paid by those who live in or near major metropolitan areas. As we charge our city residents the same price should be charged to the remote places, not more if not less. The development of the remote areas will also be a cause of concern for the government and thus they should charge the same or less charges there also depending on the number of subscribers.

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