General Discussion

SpankMe

(3,714 posts)

16. Internet access should be no-cost or low cost

Mon Nov 10, 2014, 02:07 PM

Nov 2014

It is correct that the 'net has become an indispensable part of life for most people. Almost no one can get along without it. It should be free to everyone - or provided at very low cost as a government-supported utility. And, at the fastest speed possible. The money can then be made on what business *does* over the internet.

My analogy would be roads and highways. These are supported by taxes of various stripes and we all get to use them at any time and at will. Companies then use the roads to ship goods, and we use the roads to go out and buy those goods. Effectively "free" highway infrastructure enables tons of economic activity. I think fast broadband Internet for free would do the same.

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Obama says FCC should reclassify internet as a utility [View all] Ykcutnek Nov 2014 OP

Great idea! I will wait and see what Tom Wheeler actually does. djean111 Nov 2014 #1

Hopefully he gets canned if he defies his boss. nt Ykcutnek Nov 2014 #2

He can't get canned. former9thward Nov 2014 #22

So ideally, Obama should have weighed-in sooner. appal_jack Nov 2014 #33

Exactly LiberalLovinLug Nov 2014 #36

Yes. This way, Obama gets to look like he is on the right side of things. He didn't do wrong. JDPriestly Nov 2014 #73

<sigh> The FCC is an "Independent" Agency. truebluegreen Nov 2014 #68

This would be a major accomplishment. gordianot Nov 2014 #3

Only if regulation of all utilities is improved and enforced. nt kelliekat44 Nov 2014 #42

I like that a lot flamingdem Nov 2014 #4

this is a pleasant surprise yurbud Nov 2014 #19

Who controls (in practical not official terms) the FCC? Would Congress have to be involved? nt valerief Nov 2014 #5

Congress is involved. former9thward Nov 2014 #24

Fuck, so this'll never happen. valerief Nov 2014 #67

While I agree with this BrotherIvan Nov 2014 #6

There's clearly somthing else going on that we're not privy to... Veilex Nov 2014 #18

But why screw over the rest of the Democrats? BrotherIvan Nov 2014 #21

"It's very strange" - kinda is isn't it? Veilex Nov 2014 #23

It sounds like the public option BrotherIvan Nov 2014 #27

"timing is what has me confused." - Agreed Veilex Nov 2014 #29

Maybe it's related to the TPP? BeanMusical Nov 2014 #32

We'll see BrotherIvan Nov 2014 #34

This is called empty rhetoric. He knows that the FCC isn't going to go along, but rhett o rick Nov 2014 #40

So do I...and where were Dem Candidates saying Internet should be available to all KoKo Nov 2014 #44

I am mor concerned about when they put limits on yeoman6987 Nov 2014 #51

I think that's the point..Gong after reducing BandWidth for those of us KoKo Nov 2014 #70

The CWA opposing it might have something to do with it. nt Ykcutnek Nov 2014 #26

But they have turned their backs on large unions before BrotherIvan Nov 2014 #30

Can you imagine? LiberalLovinLug Nov 2014 #38

Yeah, it's a weird oversight. ZombieHorde Nov 2014 #77

I think they understand where their money comes from, though. Nay Nov 2014 #87

There is potentially another angle here Samantha Nov 2014 #78

I hope nothing but good comes from it BrotherIvan Nov 2014 #79

It would be bad for us, no reason to do this at all. Puzzledtraveller Nov 2014 #7

Huh? I have to pay for my internet. nt valerief Nov 2014 #8

Me too Plucketeer Nov 2014 #10

Can you enlarge on that? drm604 Nov 2014 #9

I think you're confused friend. Veilex Nov 2014 #20

Some people make the mistake of opposing this simply because the CWA does. Ykcutnek Nov 2014 #25

Hopefully, this will lead to bandwidth being billed like a utility - for total usage. vademocrat Nov 2014 #11

Net neutrality doesn't impact VLAN's/VWAN's or other forms of network segmentation. Xithras Nov 2014 #15

I understand - am merely hoping that a public discussion can begin vademocrat Nov 2014 #39

I get it, but it's an incredibly hard thing to regulate. Xithras Nov 2014 #45

I can already hear the Right screaming that he wants the Internet to be "Socialized". Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #12

Commie Obamie Enthusiast Nov 2014 #50

They'll call it "Obama's Takeover of the Internet".... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #52

An Obama internet will be usefull in bringing in Sharia law and ebola. Enthusiast Nov 2014 #58

You laugh F4lconF16 Nov 2014 #75

These people honestly believe voting and prayer have the same supernatural power over reality... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #92

Horrible! Almost like the streets in our neighborhoods! Armageddon is approaching! RufusTFirefly Nov 2014 #89

During the Health Care debate I said,... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #93

You mean "socialized street lights," don't you??? n/t RufusTFirefly Nov 2014 #94

Not really, some of my best socializing has been parked far away from those things in the dark. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2014 #95

I knew my sig would have an effect cprise Nov 2014 #13

I'm on the fence with this one. Xithras Nov 2014 #14

Good catch..nt Jesus Malverde Nov 2014 #28

Interesting view point. Xyzse Nov 2014 #48

Given the choice of government regulation or comcast regulation, I prefer the former. n/t lumberjack_jeff Nov 2014 #57

Giving Republicans the ability to regulate the Internet without going through Congress.... Xithras Nov 2014 #61

Nothing should be "banned" from viewing, short of CP, animal-crush, and rape and snuff films. Ampersand Unicode Nov 2014 #63

You misunderstand. I don't want ANYTHING banned. But the Repubs do. Xithras Nov 2014 #64

This is interesting -- so, knowing this, why would Pres Obama suggest Nay Nov 2014 #88

Possible, but would harm status quo. joshcryer Nov 2014 #82

Excellent point! +1 n/t RufusTFirefly Nov 2014 #90

Your post is the best here. It will be regulated like TV, etc, but ballyhoo Nov 2014 #97

Internet access should be no-cost or low cost SpankMe Nov 2014 #16

I'm with you! Enthusiast Nov 2014 #53

Ike created DARPA Ampersand Unicode Nov 2014 #62

Completely agree! I made a similar point above before realizing you'd already expressed it well. RufusTFirefly Nov 2014 #91

I like it Doctor_J Nov 2014 #17

I wonder why.......... Enthusiast Nov 2014 #54

There will probably be a lot of liberal-sounding bluster from Obama and Reid and Pelosi Doctor_J Nov 2014 #76

So email whitehouse.gove and let him know you approve n/t eridani Nov 2014 #31

WHY DIDN'T OBAMA DO THIS BEFORE THE ELECTION? JEFF9K Nov 2014 #35

Because it's just as many of us have said all along. Enthusiast Nov 2014 #55

Because he might have had to actually deliver then. Now he's got a Congress he can work with, NorthCarolina Nov 2014 #85

This is a smart move. Who can live without the net these days? Flatulo Nov 2014 #37

Obama should have said this LAST Monday- it would have brought out youth voters stuffmatters Nov 2014 #41

Kudos on this one! He has some power here to force that decision, let's hope he uses it. grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #43

He is telling the FCC they "should" do the right thing. How much is that worth, really? rhett o rick Nov 2014 #46

Ted Cruz Calls Net Neutrality 'Obamacare For The Internet' ashling Nov 2014 #47

I think it's a trick. Enthusiast Nov 2014 #49

Dude. Like you couldn't have said this three weeks ago? n/t lumberjack_jeff Nov 2014 #56

Obama says one thing, but means another thing. blkmusclmachine Nov 2014 #59

Well when (the big ) cables companies push PatrynXX Nov 2014 #60

this kind of passion from the President would have been fantastic before the mid terms samsingh Nov 2014 #65

k&r... spanone Nov 2014 #66

This message was self-deleted by its author Vattel Nov 2014 #69

FFS... gcomeau Nov 2014 #71

Good news! But I do not trust Obama on this issue. JDPriestly Nov 2014 #72

"Obama should be framing this as the internet is part of the commons..." KoKo Nov 2014 #84

The way I see it, if we lose net neutrality than the game really is over. They'll steam roll YOHABLO Nov 2014 #74

Fuck yes! nt SunSeeker Nov 2014 #80

If Obama really feels that way, then... nikto Nov 2014 #81

Exactly. NorthCarolina Nov 2014 #83

Yes. Smart! BlancheSplanchnik Nov 2014 #86

Yes, please! librechik Nov 2014 #96