Finland Declares Broadband Net Access a "Legal Right"

[laserwulf]

Even though this seems perfectly sweet, something tells me that this is another step towards communism. Where will they get the money? Taxes!

Does this mean you're also against the notions of public schools, libraries, roads, police & fire departments?

Why does everyone assume socialist=Communist??? The whole point of governmental systems is to provide that which individuals are incapable of supplying themselves. I certainly am unable to fund my own roads, or provide currency (that other people will accept).

Although capitalism is a great thing, here in the U.S. we see the dark side as well: since telcos like AT&T have regional monopolies and own their own lines, they can charge whatever they want for service, and as a for-profit company have no incentive to spend on expanding their infrastructure. If the data infrastructure is treated the same as roads, then ISPs would have to compete on a level playing field. (Don't get me started on cell phones in the U.S....)

 

[Irridium]

If I could get a 1 mega-bit connection, I would cry in happiness. I am not kidding. After having to move to Vermont, away from fast internet, the only way I can communicate with my friends is through the internet, more specificaly online games. But with my slow ass connection, its very limited, I can't have more than 3 or so people in a chat party.

I really, really hope that this happens in the U.S.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

1 mbit = enough for information on politics, news, weather, etc.
100 mbit = totally unnecessary

"640K ought to be enough for anybody." Bill Gates in 1981.

he was also talking about RAM not net speed


as for 1 mbit, it's faster than you think, especially if it's dedicated rather than what most people have.

as for 100 mbit not being useful, yes it is very useful and i'd have a ton of fun with it, i'd have my own home hosting service with that big of a pipe

i wish Canada got off it's butt and did that or at least Rogers turned on all their dark fibre they got strewn about the country

 

[heyheysg]

Eventually every living person will be connected to the internet creating a sentient meta network, Earth becomes a living organism and technology progresses at breakneck speeds.

Then the robots take over and use us as batteries.

And it all started here.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

Even though this seems perfectly sweet, something tells me that this is another step towards communism. Where will they get the money? Taxes!

Does this mean you're also against the notions of public schools, libraries, roads, police & fire departments?

Why does everyone assume socialist=Communist??? The whole point of governmental systems is to provide that which individuals are incapable of supplying themselves. I certainly am unable to fund my own roads, or provide currency (that other people will accept).

Although capitalism is a great thing, here in the U.S. we see the dark side as well: since telcos like AT&T have regional monopolies and own their own lines, they can charge whatever they want for service, and as a for-profit company have no incentive to spend on expanding their infrastructure. If the data infrastructure is treated the same as roads, then ISPs would have to compete on a level playing field. (Don't get me started on cell phones in the U.S....)

I'm not against that, I'm against making goods into rights. Sure, public schools, roads, etc. should be open for everyone, but those aren't goods, cause the individual can't own the road (and I'm not an anarcho-capitalist who wants private protection). And yes, you can't own the Internet, but you own you're own access.

And people can supply themselves through Capitalism too.

But I don't know, maybe I'm not educated enough. But as I see it, there's no real difference for most people, cause you're still in a way paying for it.

 

[Yamikotai]

I'm not against that, I'm against making goods into rights.

I'm fairly sure I like the idea of having the right to food and water.

 

[traceur_]

I'm moving to Finland.

 

[Zenode]

Finland's Ministry of Transport and Communication has declared that one-megabit net access is a "legal right,"

I wish that Australian's could easily get that amount without having to pay out of our asses for it.

What made them come to this decision?

 

[Booze Zombie]

Well, the Internet is a very important communication tool.
If you want to think about how important communication is, think about how people always get "last phonecalls" and such.

 

[Zacharine]

Yay us, I'm guessing. But since most of people have that level of connection (or better) already, it's not that big a deal practicality wise. And I think they can stop worrying over laying cable all over lapland due to this, since the 3G cellphone connection should reach similar speeds.

So, interesting stance from my elected politicians, but chances nothing in reality.

 

[Eleuthera]

A lot of people seem to be missing the point here. It's a legal right to have access to a 1Mbit connection, they're still going to have to pay for it.

It just means the infrasctructure should be there. The same way everyone has a right to electricity and plumbing.

 

[Doktor Merkwurdigliebe]

Now THAT is what I call an enlightenment.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

I'm not against that, I'm against making goods into rights.

I'm fairly sure I like the idea of having the right to food and water.

You have the right to earn it, but you don't have the right to it. Sure, it'd be nice, if it worked for everyone. But sadly, it doesn't.

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

I can't lie, Finland is awesome. Can't wait till Christmas when I get to go there.

Probably going to Lapland, there's snow there. Prepare for darkness and lots and LOTS of trees.

Well, uhh... I don't know what to say about this. If anyone here besides appelssiini (pointsit suomalaisille Escapistissa!!) is from or has any idea what kind of a country Finland is like, this isn't so revolutionary. I live there (if someone didn't guess it already) and the whole country is very sparsely inhabited, so a broadband has basically been a necessity for several years now.

AND YES! Finland is so too often neglected and completely forgotten. When I was in NZ last christmas, they asked if there were any danes, swedes or norwegians at a concention. NOT F#¤%ING FINNS!!!!! GRRRRRRRRR!!! WE GAVE U NOKIA, HIM, CHILDREN OF BODOM, KONE, SALT LIQUORICE, LAPLAND ADN A HOL LOED OF UVVER STUFF TAHT U TSHUST IGNOER!!!! NOEOEBSSAKINDAÖLKNALKFNALKASN

 

[Vkmies]

I officially love Finland.

And we love you too!

Go go Finland!

Finland is officially a role model that any country should follow.

I must say that Finland is awesome.
Not becouse the whole country can play online now, no. But the internet makes our lives damn easier nowdays.
With the advance of optical fiber, dial up connection, although widely used in many countries (such as mine <.<), is an obsolete technology.

It feels just awesome to make it a right. +1 to you Finland.

Why thank you, whole world! I must say that im pleased.

 

[capnjack]

however; I can't stop thinking that we should have more important things to worry about than getting a good ping in TF2 [http://www.teamfortress.com/]

So you're saying politicians shouldn't bother passing any law that isn't among the most important and pressing in the world?

... All I can respond with is that I'm glad you're not a politician. Finland is moving a step in the right direction towards not allowing ISPs to abuse consumers and we could learn a thing or two from that in North America - it's pathetic how far we lag behind some other countries as far as broad and quick access to the tantamount of information available on the net.

I'm not against that, I'm against making goods into rights. Sure, public schools, roads, etc. should be open for everyone, but those aren't goods, cause the individual can't own the road (and I'm not an anarcho-capitalist who wants private protection). And yes, you can't own the Internet, but you own you're own access.

I think this is simply a way to stop ISPs from abusing their consumers. It would be no different from passing a law that doesn't let trains go at 15 miles an hour if there's no reason they can't go at 100. Not exactly what I'd call a human right; nevertheless it's a good thing.

Personally, I'm more concerned about net netruality, spying on users, throttling traffic and unfairly limiting bandwidth, but it takes a forward thinking approach (like this one) to the whole internet to protect any of our rights as internet users.

 

[L33tsauce_Marty]

I can't lie, Finland is awesome. Can't wait till Christmas when I get to go there.

Probably going to Lapland, there's snow there. Prepare for darkness and lots and LOTS of trees.

Well, uhh... I don't know what to say about this. If anyone here besides appelssiini (pointsit suomalaisille Escapistissa!!) is from or has any idea what kind of a country Finland is like, this isn't so revolutionary. I live there (if someone didn't guess it already) and the whole country is very sparsely inhabited, so a broadband has basically been a necessity for several years now.

AND YES! Finland is so too often neglected and completely forgotten. When I was in NZ last christmas, they asked if there were any danes, swedes or norwegians at a concention. NOT F#¤%ING FINNS!!!!! GRRRRRRRRR!!! WE GAVE U NOKIA, HIM, CHILDREN OF BODOM, KONE, SALT LIQUORICE, LAPLAND ADN A HOL LOED OF UVVER STUFF TAHT U TSHUST IGNOER!!!! NOEOEBSSAKINDAÖLKNALKFNALKASN

You forgot Nightwish.

 

[hansari]

A legal right... *facepalm* wait... a HUMAN right? You compare life essentials to INTERNET?

I know...what is the world coming to?

Remember when "human rights" were all about "life" and "freedom"...

FFS...Broadband...despite the obvious important the internet plays in the world today, broadband is hardly necessary. (you don't NEED broadband to get science journals and articles...but if your downloading Porn and want to wank fast...oh well than....)

 

[FiveSpeedf150]

Ya know what, of all the things to waste tax money on... this isn't the worst one. At all.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

As someone who used to work in Internet tech support, I give this news a rousing facedesk. *facedesk*