Public Communications

[ghost_stalker]

There are many public tv and radio stations. But what about free public internet access?? SHould it become available like tv or radio, and if it is done how should it work???

[Starboy]

Many libraries have free access. I understand that in many places in Europe there is free wifi. As for how it could work, well nothing is free but a utility that is used by everyone could be paid for by a tax on everyone. If only a fraction use it then there could be a tax on MAC addresses. If you didn't own a computer you would not have a MAC address and so you would not pay a tax.

Starboy

[tman_ndsu08]

There is no demand for a horrible service that forces people who don't use it to pay for it.

Thus, private internet services that already exist will be the only option.

[Jack]

If only a fraction use it then there could be a tax on MAC addresses.

That would suck. I have only one network at home, but as with all hardware, my modem, router and each computer has its own MAC address. Would we only tax the MAC address visable to the Internet? I'd hope so.
BTW-Google is beta testing free WIFI in San Francisco.

[qkid.]

a rather limited free service ( 300 kb/s /w bad connectivity; it will take a lot more to rival paid servers ).

mac addresses can be extremely easily changed, they'd need some other form of internet id.

[Livemike]

Quote by: Starboy Many libraries have free access. I understand that in many places in Europe there is free wifi. As for how it could work, well nothing is free but a utility that is used by everyone could be paid for by a tax on everyone. If only a fraction use it then there could be a tax on MAC addresses. If you didn't own a computer you would not have a MAC address and so you would not pay a tax. Starboy

You don't have a right to something made from the effort of others. The good news is
that if you don't mind a bit of advertising a free connection business model isn't that
hard to construct.