Finland Makes Broadband a Legal Right

Avatard · 10-14-2009, 11:56 PM

http://www.pcworld.com/article/17369...gal_Right.html

The Finnish government has done what no other nation has; it has made broadband Internet access a guaranteed legal right of its citizens. According to Finnish news site YLE, The Ministry of Transport and Communications says everyone in the country will be entitled to a guaranteed 1 Mbit connection by next July. This is fascinating, but it's really only half the story.

The real news is that the country considers this just a preliminary stepping stone to a 100 Mbit service guarantee by the end of 2015. According to the story, "Some variation will be allowed, if connectivity can be arranged through mobile phone networks."

Granted, Finland's population is more like a very large city than a country as big as the U.S. There are 5.3 million people residing in Finland, mostly in the south. This would place the country about 30th in the ranking of world cities by population, but it still makes it bigger than any U.S. city save New York. Which begs the question - if Finland can do this, why can't more major U.S. cities?

Dave · 10-15-2009, 12:09 AM

because we are already taxed to death.

NEXT

Trip · 10-15-2009, 12:20 AM

It would be nice and I have heard of some cities offering hot spots for wifi. That's the direction to go in, a good wifi network.

It's not worth it to do it in rural areas like Finland has though.

Sean · 10-15-2009, 12:26 AM

So basically porn is now a guaranteed right there. Yeah, that's what we need to spend tax dollars on.

goof2 · 10-15-2009, 10:35 AM

When is the government going to guarantee me a new free computer to go with my free internet? Mine is getting dusty.

shmike · 10-15-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goof2

When is the government going to guarantee me a new free computer to go with my free internet? Mine is getting dusty.

For now, that is still the job of a private company. http://www.bluehippo.com/

You can bitch about it on your free gubment cell phone though.
https://www.safelinkwireless.com/Enr...blic/Home.aspx

Papa_Complex · 10-15-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shmike

For now, that is still the job of a private company. http://www.bluehippo.com/

You can bitch about it on your free gubment cell phone though.
https://www.safelinkwireless.com/Enr...blic/Home.aspx

Have you ever looked at those Blue Hippo "deals"? By the time that you're done, you've paid 3x what the computer was worth.

shmike · 10-15-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

Have you ever looked at those Blue Hippo "deals"? By the time that you're done, you've paid 3x what the computer was worth.

Never looked. To be honest I'd think 3x is being generous.

When I Googled their name to get the link, 90% of all references were "beware of scam" and lawsuit links.

goof2 · 10-15-2009, 11:32 AM

I could buy one, but why do that? The government should do everything for me, for free. Computers, internet, cell phone, HDTV with the cable service to go with it. The government should provide my every need and desire.

I know I could go down to my local library and use their government funded computers and internet, but that sounds a lot like work. We, the American people, are apparently a bunch of petulant children the government must coddle and cater to.

Papa_Complex · 10-15-2009, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goof2

I could buy one, but why do that? The government should do everything for me, for free. Computers, internet, cell phone, HDTV with the cable service to go with it. The government should provide my every need and desire.

I know I could go down to my local library and use their government funded computers and internet, but that sounds a lot like work. We, the American people, are apparently a bunch of petulant children the government must coddle and cater to.

Ummmmm..... you know that this was Finland, right?

10-14-2009, 11:56 PM	#1
Avatard Crotch Rocket Curmudgeon Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Here to integrity Moto: Li'l red baby Ninja Posts: 7,482	Finland Makes Broadband a Legal Right http://www.pcworld.com/article/17369...gal_Right.html The Finnish government has done what no other nation has; it has made broadband Internet access a guaranteed legal right of its citizens. According to Finnish news site YLE, The Ministry of Transport and Communications says everyone in the country will be entitled to a guaranteed 1 Mbit connection by next July. This is fascinating, but it's really only half the story. The real news is that the country considers this just a preliminary stepping stone to a 100 Mbit service guarantee by the end of 2015. According to the story, "Some variation will be allowed, if connectivity can be arranged through mobile phone networks." Granted, Finland's population is more like a very large city than a country as big as the U.S. There are 5.3 million people residing in Finland, mostly in the south. This would place the country about 30th in the ranking of world cities by population, but it still makes it bigger than any U.S. city save New York. Which begs the question - if Finland can do this, why can't more major U.S. cities? __________________ Insert free thought here.

10-15-2009, 12:09 AM	#2
Dave Chaotic Neutral Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cherry Hill NJ Moto: GV1200 Madura, Hawk gt Posts: 13,992	because we are already taxed to death. NEXT __________________ TWF Post whore #6

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10-15-2009, 12:26 AM	#4
Sean giggity Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: socal Moto: street, sumo & dirty Posts: 1,071	So basically porn is now a guaranteed right there. Yeah, that's what we need to spend tax dollars on.

10-15-2009, 10:35 AM	#5
goof2 AMA Supersport Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 4,756	When is the government going to guarantee me a new free computer to go with my free internet? Mine is getting dusty.

10-15-2009, 11:32 AM	#9
goof2 AMA Supersport Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 4,756	I could buy one, but why do that? The government should do everything for me, for free. Computers, internet, cell phone, HDTV with the cable service to go with it. The government should provide my every need and desire. I know I could go down to my local library and use their government funded computers and internet, but that sounds a lot like work. We, the American people, are apparently a bunch of petulant children the government must coddle and cater to.