Broadband for All

I was listening to NPR earlier, and there was a segment that I found of particular interest. Finland is making broadband a public right.

Soon, everyone in that nation will have the right to broadband internet access if they desire it. Companies must provide it throughout the nation. No longer will anyone have to be at the disadvantage of either having slow service or no service at all.

Finland is the first country to make such a move. However, I can see other progressive nations following suit. It simply makes sense given that everything from banking to shopping to communicating with one's family tends to be done online.

Comments: 14

j - Frugal Mom - r. Oct 18, 2009, 8:16pm EDT

It does make sense.

Kat W. Oct 18, 2009, 8:22pm EDT

Good for them!

Kay M. Oct 18, 2009, 8:37pm EDT

That''s great!

Marsha S. Oct 18, 2009, 8:49pm EDT

here in my own town the governor is going to make wireless free access all over town.....it's a nice dream but have no idea how he would pull it off since the cable company would lose a LOT of money

Heather ~of the Whippets~ M. Oct 18, 2009, 9:09pm EDT

In Finland, the broadband access won't be free. However, it will be fairly inexpensive.

The cable company probably wouldn't be losing money in the situation that you describe. The government would be paying (probably an outrageous amount) for the wireless access that the citizens would then have access to; plus, many people who already have internet access would probably choose to continue their plans (to ensure good access, security, etc.).

Howard C. Oct 18, 2009, 10:11pm EDT

I live at the end of the world as far as fiber optics go: no cable, no DSL and quite often, no electricity. The price one pays for living on a lake. Hughes Net is my salvation. Maybe someday, DSL will be everywhere.

Heather ~of the Whippets~ M. Oct 18, 2009, 10:16pm EDT

That is pretty much how it was here until about a year or so ago. It was a bit of a shock when I came out here and had to contend with dial-up--something that I hadn't done in more than half-a-decade.

Howard C. Oct 18, 2009, 11:05pm EDT

I put up with dial-up for nine years. I finally switched to Hughes Net a few months ago. It has certainly made a major difference. Hope you get DSL soon.

Heather ~of the Whippets~ M. Oct 19, 2009, 1:51am EDT

Actually, they did put it through about a year ago. Before that, I had spent about a year on dial-up; that's something that I don't want to ever have to repeat again.

Howard C. Oct 19, 2009, 4:05pm EDT

I'm glad for you. Most users of the Internet have no idea what dial-up is like. Thanks!

Barb (Gather Site Ferret) Carlson Oct 19, 2009, 11:26am EDT

Finland is a small country. Making sure everyone has access is a little bit easier job in a small place, but I think it's a great idea! Like telephone lines pretty much being available to everyone, computer access has gotten to be a necessity (while, interestingly enough, the landlines have become less critical with so many people having cell phones).

It will be interesting to see what happens in the next 5 years. FIOS is going places (not to MY place, unfortunately) and that's pretty darned fast. The world has changed a lot in the last 10 years, hasn't it? :)