Your ISP May Prevent You From Getting Free Internet Access

[MikeWehner]

Your ISP May Prevent You From Getting Free Internet Access

Could the U.S. be a country of free internet?

Update: The Hill notes [http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/280989-fccs-free-wifi-proposal-generates-buzz] that the plan discussed by the FCC in the original article on The Washington Post isn't new, but has been discussed and debated before, though no FCC vote on it has yet been held. There's also the issue of who would build the network on the freed-up bands, as the FCC wouldn't actually be the ones constructing it.

Original Article: If you live in the United States, you should know that the Federal Communications Commission wants you to have 100% free high-speed internet access. The government feels that access to the information superhighway (yes, I pulled that term straight out of 1999) is necessary, and that you shouldn't have to hand out cash each month for the privilege. Unsurprisingly, most internet service providers don't feel the same way, and communications companies that make a mint off of internet subscribers are digging their heels in for the fight.

The FCC's plan involves buying back portions of airwaves from television providers and other broadcast networks, then opening those bands to create a free, nationwide WiFi network. The always-on, no-cost internet access would not only help more individuals get online, but could also pave the way for communications innovations in a variety of industries.

Shocking absolutely no one, companies such as AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile are firmly against this plan, as it could mean the potential loss of billions of dollars in revenue. However, the FCC does have a couple of big names on its side, including Microsoft and Google, both of whom feel that lowering the barrier to getting online is crucial for the country to continue to innovate.

If the FCC's plan comes to fruition, it would still be several years before a wireless infrastructure could be set up, and there are many obstacles in its way. Oh, and you can bet your ISP will be using your monthly payment to fight the movement every step of the way.

Source: Washington Post [http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/tech-telecom-giants-take-sides-as-fcc-proposes-large-public-wifi-networks/2013/02/03/eb27d3e0-698b-11e2-ada3-d86a4806d5ee_story_1.html]

Image Credit: roland [http://www.flickr.com/photos/roland/5628630661/sizes/z/in/photostream/]

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[T3hSource]

Old corporations are scared,Google wants to rule the world,M$ just wants more wallets to suck from,welcome to corporate internet folks,we hope you enjoy your stay,btw that costs 14,99$ per registration.
And always remember it's all free [sub][sub][sub]to pay[/sub][/sub][/sub]

 

[ron1n]

Unsurprisingly, most internet service providers doesn't feel the same way

Don't?

Nice idea, but even if it were to happen, the service quality would no doubt go to crap with that many more people all jumping on once it was free.

 

[Canadish]

Interesting.

If there does end up being a government supported network, I suspect we'd find a lot more sites banned and censored as they'd finally have the reigns of control.

On the other hand, that might make private services try claim back customers by promising to not support such bans.

It could end up a win-win.

 

[risenbone]

Free internet sounds great. Couple of problems the priorities seem to be a bit off I dunno but free healthcare would be nice and would seem to be a bit more important than free internet. The other problem who is going to be paying for the instalation and maintanence of this free wifi oh it's the Government which basicly means the taxpayers. Secondly if the Government is running the means of accessing the internet I'm sure they will want some control over whats on it and what it gets used for meaning stuff like SOPA and the other bill they tried to get through will be much harder to stop.

Free internet suddenly became a whole lot less free.

 

[Zombie_Moogle]

This would be an incredible boon to small businesses & innovative start-up's throughout the country

Telecom's, quick! Hop on killing this plan!

Edit: there are inherent issues, of course: net neutrality would be a concern, but then it already is, just from a different angle. Tax dollars would be paying for it, although the value to the economy would hopefully offset that.

I'm personally curious to see how the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) tries to deal with this

 

[MikeWehner]

Unsurprisingly, most internet service providers doesn't feel the same way

Don't?

Nice idea, but even if it were to happen, the service quality would no doubt go to crap with that many more people all jumping on once it was free.

I'm only 3 cups of coffee in right now. Corrected.

 

[Albino Boo]

Just how do they think they are going to pay for all this? The airwave sell off brought billions in revenue and then they are going have to pay for an entirely new infrastructure and then maintain it. You are going to have to pay for all that one or another. Also a single state owned internet provider isn't that best idea in the world. Every decision becomes a political decision, you could easily see porn an poker sites getting banned from a state owned system. Apart from everything else, it is vulnerable to industrial action in way that a private company isn't.

 

[Fappy]

This sounds pretty damned far-fetched to be honest. I want to know where they're going to get the money for this. I'm also not entirely sure I am comfortable with the government directly controlling my access. Look at the censorship public broadcast and AM/FM radio has to deal with for a good example of what I mean.

As for the corporations. This isn't a death sentence by any means, but it'd definitely require them to adapt.

 

[Ilikemilkshake]

Free?.. Free is just another word for communist. DAMNIT OBAMA!

This could be pretty cool but there's the possibility that if the government wanted to censor something they'd have a lot easier time of it if they where an ISP, which obviously isn't great.

 

[Falterfire]

I am wary of giving any control to the government, but damn if 'free' isn't a wonderful wonderful price for internets. As for where the government will get the money: We're already trillions of dollars in debt. What's another few billion between friends?

 

[OldNewNewOld]

So why is free internet necessary to live while food isn't?
Yeah, internet isn't a luxury anymore. It's a "must have". You need it to get a job, to stay in contact, to have social life... but there are also tons of other stuff that you need, so why are people just now fighting for free internet?
Few years ago, you needed a mobile phone, some years before you needed a normal phone. You absolutely need food, electricity, water, heating/cooling, cloths... so what makes the internet need special to ask for it to be free?

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't say no to free internet, but I'm just curious to why the internet and not some other, more necessary stuff.

 

[MikeWehner]

This sounds pretty damned far-fetched to be honest. I want to know where they're going to get the money for this. I'm also not entirely sure I am comfortable with the government directly controlling my access. Look at the censorship public broadcast and AM/FM radio has to deal with for a good example of what I mean.

As for the corporations. This isn't a death sentence by any means, but it'd definitely require them to adapt.

That's the thing. The FCC *wants* us all to have free internet, and they want to free up the bands to allow it to happen, but that's pretty much where their involvement ends. The FCC won't be out building towers or anything, they're kind of just paving the way for someone else to do it, but it's a pricey proposition to build a giant free wifi network and not expect revenue from it. I mean, could Google or MS (or both) bankroll it? Would it pay off for them in the long run? Who knows.

 

[cidbahamut]

This whole thing strikes me as extremely suspicious. I'm not sure I trust any of the parties involved.

 

[Fappy]

This sounds pretty damned far-fetched to be honest. I want to know where they're going to get the money for this. I'm also not entirely sure I am comfortable with the government directly controlling my access. Look at the censorship public broadcast and AM/FM radio has to deal with for a good example of what I mean.

As for the corporations. This isn't a death sentence by any means, but it'd definitely require them to adapt.

That's the thing. The FCC *wants* us all to have free internet, and they want to free up the bands to allow it to happen, but that's pretty much where their involvement ends. The FCC won't be out building towers or anything, they're kind of just paving the way for someone else to do it, but it's a pricey proposition to build a giant free wifi network and not expect revenue from it. I mean, could Google or MS (or both) bankroll it? Would it pay off for them in the long run? Who knows.

I'd say Google is the most likely candidate, but that's also kind of a scary notion to think about. Google's already surpassed anything you could describe as godlike power D:

 

[Doctor Proctor]

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/02/no-free-wi-fi-isnt-coming-to-every-us-city/

No offense, but I think this story has been debunked a bit. The original Washington Post article that sparked all of this was basically incorrect on a bunch of things...namely the free part. The FCC is merely asking for public comment on unlicensed White Spaces to be used in so-called "Super Wi-Fi" that could cover larger areas with less interference. There's nothing about it being "free" for everyone to use.

Basically, Super Wi-Fi is just regular Wi-Fi with longer range. Using the Wi-Fi connection is free* (after the cost of hardware), but it doesn't actually DO anything unless there's an internet connection behind it. ISP's will still be required to actually serve up the digital bits behind the network, and they'll still charge. It will basically be what Clearwire ( http://www.clearwire.com/ ) is doing, except using Super Wi-Fi rather than 4G.

That's probably why the ISP's don't like it too. Not because they'll have to compete with free, because they won't, but because ANYONE could come in with Super Wi-Fi driven broadband and compete with them, rather than consumers just being left with the choice between members of their local duopoly.

 

[Kahani]

The government feels that access to the information superhighway (yes, I pulled that term straight out of 1999) is necessary, and that you shouldn't have to hand out cash each month for the privilege.

That's a pretty bizarre thing for the government to feel. Access to water, electricity, food, roads, education, healthcare, telephones, postal service and the aqueduct are all considered necessary, but no-one seems to feel we should have free access to them all. Even in countries where some services are free at point of access, we still have to pay for them at some point. And many of those things are significantly more necessary than pretty much anything else. What exactly is so special about the internet that makes it so important for everyone to get it for free when a significant portion of the population can't even afford to see a doctor?

 

[Doctor Proctor]

The government feels that access to the information superhighway (yes, I pulled that term straight out of 1999) is necessary, and that you shouldn't have to hand out cash each month for the privilege.

That's a pretty bizarre thing for the government to feel. Access to water, electricity, food, roads, education, healthcare, telephones, postal service and the aqueduct are all considered necessary, but no-one seems to feel we should have free access to them all. Even in countries where some services are free at point of access, we still have to pay for them at some point. And many of those things are significantly more necessary than pretty much anything else. What exactly is so special about the internet that makes it so important for everyone to get it for free when a significant portion of the population can't even afford to see a doctor?

Heck, the internet isn't even a UTILITY like water, electricity and gas. That's why it doesn't go on your credit report, and it doesn't go on welfare and loan applications and such as a utility expense. If the government thinks it's as necessary as the other utilities, they certainly aren't showing it.