 BrownbayPremium
join:2005-03-13
North York, ON
1 edit | A Right! My vote goes for it being a RIGHT/UTILITY... especially in this day and age when so many things depend on it.
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You can make Time wait... Just don't count it. |
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 drkkgtBooPremium
join:2003-08-26
Whittier, CA | How about a religion so govt will not tax it and stay the he!! out? |
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 JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD | Utility Networks are the means of communication in the modern world, particularly in a global society. |
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 DennisPremium,Mod
join:2001-01-26
Algonquin, IL
kudos:5 | Honestly I consider it a Utility.
The only reason I wouldn't would be so that the government doesn't start getting into regulating it even more. |
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 l33tPremium
join:2003-01-23
Indianapolis, IN | Luxury/Utility Even though I am thankful for my highspeed connection. I still believe it is a luxury. Because not everyone can afford it. And some even are on dial-up. But this single luxury/utility can be useful in many ways. It opens up markets, business, commerce, and information. But no, this isn't a right at all. There are some business people who don't even have a computer in America.
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My opinionGeorge Bush Bush > John Kerry > Ralph NaderVisit Kerry's website!»www.kerry-04.org |
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REL749
join:2005-05-19
Sterling Heights, MI | I agree with l33t.
There are still many people on dialup which can't afford broadband.
To me it's worth every penny! :P |
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Cod
join:2000-07-05
Kernersville, NC Reviews:
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| Luxury In this day, 2006, I see broadband being a luxury. I'd love to see it as a 'right', but the bottom line is that right now, broadband is still a luxury. I don't see half of the US population who don't have broadband either because of choice, financials, or availibity not being ab le to function in everyday life because they don't have broadband. Maybe in ten years when certain things become a necessity like online voting, strictly online banking, etc become the norm, then maybe it will become a right. But even then, most of that stuff can still be performed by dialup.
I know I will get flamed for my thoughts, and I am certainly pro-broadband FOR EVERYONE, but I just don't see it as anything more than a luxury right now for most Americans. |
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BrownbayPremium
join:2005-03-13
North York, ON | reply to l33t
Re: Luxury/Utility Well I think that by making it a Right and a Utility... It should help make (true) broadband cheaper and will jump-start an even bigger/faster deployment to reach all over America.
I don't know how it is in the States... but up here in Canada, broadband could sure use some Government intervention as some of the Cableco's and Telco's tend to cross the line too often on their service agreements (EULA) and in the level of customer service/general service or lack there of that they offer.
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You can make Time wait... Just don't count it. |
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 ylen131
join:2000-02-09
Canoga Park, CA | reply to Brownbay
Re: A Right! luxury, person can survive with out it |
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| utility, need and more If broadband is a communication "luxury" than phone service is also a luxury. Communication is not a "need." I would say broadband is certainly as much of a "need" as phone service, television provision, radio and most uses of electricity (lighting, space cooling). That said, it is certainly a utility. As for those who argue "regulation ceases the spread," please read a bit on the deployment policies of Korea, China, Canada and Japan. When history is to be accounted for, regulation/limitation is necessary to promote penetration. China is particularly relevant to the United States as the geographic makeup of the country and the way the population is dispersed (rural areas vs urban areas, China does have a much longer population to the United States, but in the past ten years, a large portion of that population has become more concentrated in cities, imagine if LA, NYC, San Diego, Chicago, DC-Baltimore, Denver and Phoenix tripled their populations, hence the rural factors are still similar) is fairly related. Its true in a ground-level market, regulation kills growth, but when a market is sort of a bastardized head on top of another market's already built and consolidated body (telco industry), then regulation is needed to force the large companies to allow smaller companies to join the market and compete. History has a very important affect on the ability of the market to function.
Frankly, in my opinion, the sooner broadband gets deployed, the better, municipally funded or not. If a city wants broadband right now and its not there already, encourage them to build it and then sell the physical infrastructure to a third-party private or a young company that can network and grow to provoke competition with the already monstrous and lethargic telcos and cable companies. |
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 AreSee
join:2000-09-20
Atlanta, GA
1 edit | connection yes / broadband no I don't see how we can call broadband a utility if there are still areas in the country that can't get it.
Now I do believe that Internet access itself is getting to the point that it's a utility; and an increasingly important one at that.
I'm not touching the Right to Broadband argument. |
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 r81984Fair and BalancedPremium
join:2001-11-14
Katy, TX | reply to l33t
Re: Luxury/Utility It definately is a utility, I mean come on! In many countries in the world utilities are only in rich areas, just because some people cannot afford a computer to get on the internet or to pay for the internet does not mean its a luxury. |
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l33tPremium
join:2003-01-23
Indianapolis, IN | said by r81984:It definately is a utility, I mean come on! In many countries in the world utilities are only in rich areas, just because some people cannot afford a computer to get on the internet or to pay for the internet does not mean its a luxury. That's why I have Luxury/Utility because some people don't need broadband as a utility. Like an example farmers.
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My opinionGeorge Bush Bush > John Kerry > Ralph NaderVisit Kerry's website!»www.kerry-04.org |
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 JRW2R.I.P. Mom, Brian, Ziggy, Max and Zen.Premium
join:2004-12-20
La La Land
kudos:5
·Optimum Online
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Re: A Right! said by ylen131:luxury, person can survive with out it You can survive without a phone, but how many people have one, and that IS a utility!! |
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Ender_WDoes Microsoft Mean Small And Squishy?
join:2002-09-14
Saint Louis, MO | reply to Cod
Re: Luxury Actually, I completely agree with you. Its still a luxury. Necessity and utilities are something that you cant live with out. Internet is not one of those yet. It may be in the future but even then its hard to imagine everyone having computers like everyone has electricity or water services.
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There is enough youth. How bout a fountain of smart... |
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JRW2R.I.P. Mom, Brian, Ziggy, Max and Zen.Premium
join:2004-12-20
La La Land
kudos:5 Reviews:
·Optimum Online
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Re: connection yes / broadband no said by AreSee:I don't see how we can call broadband a utility if there are still areas in the country that can't get it. Now I do believe that Internet access itself is getting to the point that it's a utility; and an increasingly important one at that. I'm not touching the Right to Broadband argument. Until recently, I believe, there were STILL areas of the US without either hardwired phone or electricity. So your argument looses something... |
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| Absolute necessity! Factoring in my time and cost of driving around, I figure my broadband connection pays for itself.
And don't even suggest I could do that with dialup because dialup is just too phuqing slow. |
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 nplnUs Army
join:2000-07-17
Antioch, CA | most people do not need it I see it mostly like a luxury, the world was doing fine before it!!! I have it....barely ever use it!!!
Utility not really.......
A Right......you are kidding right? |
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 MIAByePremium
join:2001-10-28
united state | reply to ylen131
Re: A Right! said by ylen131:luxury, person can survive with out it Ditto. |
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 kapilThe Kapil
join:2000-04-26
Chicago, IL | What kinda' question is this? Children in China should have the right to not be forced to work in sweatshops.
The fact that fatasses in America and elsewhere in the developed world can use their Broadband to order the products of those sweatshops like Nike and Gap is a luxury.
Running water should be a right and is basic enough of a need to be considered utility. Broadband so you can get your daily fix of pron faster is a luxury.
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Stand Up For Free Speech! - »www.eff.org |
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