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Costa Rica Offers Free Internet Access
Dan Dragohn writes: "This past Thursday, Costa Rican President Miguel Angel Rodriguez inaugurated a system of free e-mail (& Internet) access for his country's entire population of 3.5 million in a program he said would soon be extended throughout the rest of Central America."
bad idea because...
1. cut's out the indivual in TCP-IP service providers.
2. set's up a beuracracy that has no incentive to inovate.
Just look at dialup in the US, unless we pay extra for a "decent" (open to debate) connection (DSL/Cable/T1/T3) we are stuck with a connection of marginal quality that may approach 56K when the moon is in proper alignment with Al Gore. Why, the Telco's have no incentive to expand the networks since it is a local call that they make no money on.
Sadly, I think they will run into similar problems.
Best of luck to them...
TastesLikeHerringFlavoredChicken
TastesLikeHerringFlavoredChicken
Contrary to some replies posted in comments:
1. Costa Rica is in Central America, NOT South America.
2. The literacy rate is 93%. It's not some backwoods, third-world country.
Merely taking a government agency and turning it into a private company doesn't help the situation. It actually makes it worse, because now they're a monopoly who can be blatantly self-interested with no restraint. At least a government agency ostensibly has oversight, ultimately by the voters (I know I know, big problems there but way beyond the scope of this note). A private monopoly has no oversight and zero incentive to provide a good product or service.
For privatization to be an improvement, effective competition has to be part of the picture. No matter where you fall on the government-vs.-free-market debate, almost anyone would agree that a private monopoly is worse than either a government agency or a competitive free market. Anyone pushing for privatization needs to remember that and to incorporate competition into any plan for privatization.
Nothing against the post above, just bringing up a point that's usually overlooked.
Do I see this happening in more developed Western nations? No, for the same reason that the DMCA and the UTICA bills were passed - the almighty bottom line. There is no way that America or any other country with a signifigantly developed economy would implement something of this scale. But then again do we really need "Internet Welfare"? I don't think so, but that's another story for another day.
Pete
The sole purpose of the Internet is to get porn and bomb making plans into the hands of children.
..but then again I'm from a semi-socialist country (Canada)..
"Today we become the first society in the world in which email is free and open to all," the Costa Rican president said in a speech at the headquarters of the state-run Costa Rican Postal Service, which together with the state-run Radiografica Costarricense (Racsa) will be implementing the program, dubbed Punto.com.
Um.. This sounds a bit like hype.. I don't know about the States, but up in the frozen north we can walk into a public library, or the occasional coffee shop and use any one of the 'free' web based mail services...
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air and light and time and space
People will be able to "...surf the internet free of charge over the next six months..." -- okay, but what happens after that? Who gets left holding the bag? Do I have to support it if I don't use it?
Also, "...municipal governments will regulate the time local users can spend on the system, based on demand in each locale...". It sure would suck to be kicked off while writing a message because demand is so high that you only get about two minutes a pop. Wonder how they're rating/measuring this?
Today's lesson: Sunblock. Shouldn't have left home without it. ( ~sizzle~ )
--
*kerchunk* *beep* "...Operator."
They might not have as many computers per capita as in US/Canada, but I'd say the general education level in Costa Rica, and general Central/South America is quite good. Literacy rates (from http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/count ry.html), smattering of countries: NORTH AMERICA US -- 97% Canada -- 97% Mexico -- 89% CENTRAL AMERICA Costa Rica -- 95% Honduras -- 73% Nicaragua -- 66% SOUTH AMERICA Brazil -- 83% Argentina -- 96% Colombia -- 91% Chile -- 95% Peru -- 89% Uruguay -- 97% CARIBBEAN Cuba -- 96% Haiti -- 45% I grew up in Brazil and Uruguay. Most Latin Americans take education seriously. You'll find the average person-on-the-street not only more literate, but more culturally and philosophically aware than your average American joe. In the U.S. we learn what we need to for work and turn to aimless isolating entertaining selfish pursuits after-hours. Latin Americans (like Europeans) are better prepared to function as members of society. Of course, that's not a goal for many here, YMMV.
I'm an American living in Costa Rica and internet access is hardly free here. Bandwidth is much more expensive than in the USA. For example, I am paying $1,800/month for a dedicated 128K line. All connections here must go through the local government-owned telephone monopoly, which is in serious need of competition. Compared to the US, the service sucks. Bribery is the quickest way to get something done (and even that does not always work). Competent and reliable help is hard to find. I have been trying to get a T-1 for several months, but the telco continues to delay and give me excuses (the latest one being, "We're out of T-1 modems"). I used to think that dealing with USWest was a pain, but they're nothing compared to idiots who work for the phone company here. The plan for "free" internet access is simply to allow email at certain public facilities. Not a big deal. You can find better free access in the USA. Costa Rica tried to pass a bill to privatize the telco/internet company, but the unions complained and they ended up with a half-assed bill that no likes or understands. Privatizing the telecom stuff has been the goal of the current president (I met with him about a year ago to discuss it). Unfortunately, he has not been able to get the political support to accomplish it. The politicians here are no different and are just as short-sighted as the ones back home. Much of the population here has been brainwashed to see government as the solution to all their problems (even more so than the US). Many can't even imagine a telephone service that is privately operated. However, if they ever do see the light and open things up to competition in telecommunications, this country could become a true data haven.
Very interesting. Its a good idea: Free access to information. The problem that I see is the overall lack of computers in South America. Sure, rich families will have them, but most people will not. Still as the article says, terminals will be installed in public areas.
Again, though, how many people will use them? Here in Canada the level of literacy is (IIRC) about 80%. What is it like in South America? You cannot use the internet without a functional ability to read.
With the spread of this idea it gives all the more reason to donated your used systems to South American countries, its better than sending them to landfill. I know that there was an organization here in Canada that was sending used systems to Cuba (yes, its Central America...)
If "free" (donated) PC's begin to become common, I wonder what OS they will use? I sure hope its a free one. Competition would still be good too.
Try to hack my 31337 firewall!
As a Costa Rican, I'm amused by most (not all) of the replies associated with Costa rica obtaining free Internet/email. Many of which are prime examples of ignorance and a lack of knowledge towards other countries. Costa Rica (CR) is in Central America not South America. It's literacy rate is in the 90 percentile. Although some farmers still use animals to plow their land I don't think McDonalds, Dole or Chiqitta do. And last I checked, Intel and other chip firms have and are still building new chip facilities in CR to support the US market. A location which was chosen based on literacy rate, population income and tax breaks as usual. Back to the point of free Internet/email service for the masses. Is this good? Yes, but not many can take advantage of it. After all, you need a computer first. And not many of my Costa Rican comrades feel that computers are essential outside of work. Costa Rica encourages living stress free and spending time with your family. You might be broke, but you're a happy broke person. Is it paradise? Far from it, but the folks can teach people a thing or two about what's really important in life. Don't fall for any of this PR crap folks. It's just posturing by the president to look good in the eyes of his people as well as the US. Possibly to get additional US $$$ aid. Costa Ricans may not be MIT grads, but they're not from Arkansas or the Appalachian either! Not all Americans are as sharp as tacks: Remember that!
I think this is a pretty smart move for Costa Rica; allowing everyone to have free internet access and e-mail is no doubt going to be a huge undertaking, but it is something that will probably benefit them in the long-run.
:)
The article gives brief details about providing free internet access to the citizens of Costa Rica who already have computers and setting up terminals in public buildings for those without, and I think this is an excellent move as far as benefitting the country in a long-term view. By allowing people to use the internet free-of-charge, there will no doubt be an increase in the number of people pursuing both hobbies and careers in computer fields simply because of the greater exposure.
Also, because Costa Rica has a relatively stable status quo compared to neighboring countries, it seems probable that this program will be fully implemented (no pesky political shake-ups or economic crises to mess with the timeline.)
Right now, most of Costa Rica's GDP comes from industries like coffee, bananas and textiles but I think that with a program like this being implemented the country will lean more toward an economy based on computers.
Besides, it's a lot prettier than the United State's computer industry hot-spots; they have tropical forests and monkeys and jaguars
GeekFlavor
There once was President Miguel
Costa Ricans thought he was just swell
That is, 'til his plan
"Connect all in the land!"
The provider he chose: AOL