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Internet For All in Europe
evileyetmc writes "It seems that the EU has taken the next big step in promoting the concept of Internet for All, by attempting to 'ensure that the most Web-disadvantaged groups can get online.'" From the article: "The EC has now pledged to increase broadband coverage across the continent to 90 percent by 2010. Rural areas are still underserved, according to the Commission, with about 60 percent penetration. Urban areas fare better and are already at the 90 percent mark. The EC has also committed to putting new measures in place to halve exclusion rates in skills and digital literacy by 2010. "
Yea. In 10 years in U.S. the people to exchange ideas will be the ones who are able to pay for it.
Which will probably mean the big corporations, their owners, or their top management and lobbyists.
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Erm, I have to disagree here. Right now there are quite a few countries in Europe that have a good coverage and very good speed for pretty low prices. In the US, well, you have to be lucky enough to live in a place that the telco companies consider important enough to deliver a semi decent service, and you usually have to pay a fortune anyway. And no, NYC does not count as the entire USA...
France is usually the first country cited by Americans when talking about anything govt controlled in Europe. Yet France, for such a rural country has an extremely good coverage. By the end of the year, 98% of the population should have access to adsl. France Telecom offers aren't exactly expensive either. Triple play starts at 30 euros (1Mbps/VoIP with unlimited calls/IPTV) or you can get, for example, 40 euros for 18Mbps + IPTV. That is the govt owned internet company. And if it has one advantage over other ISPs, it's reliability. The main reason people choose to go with France Telecom is because they'd rather pay a bit more and be sure it works. I personally have a different ISP, it's cheaper and there are more services, but it's also more of a risk...
So I'm sorry, but govt owned ISPs are just fine, however a little competition from the private market does make it even better.
Oh, and if you still think France Telecom's 18Mbps is slow, rest assured, France Telecom is currently planning on laying down FTTH.
So sure, the only example I can give is France, but it certainly is a damned good example, especially when we see the Americans, who a few years back were ahead of the rest with their cable connections, now currently debating over what possible use people could make of 5Mbps... (oh wow how fast...). I mean your market hasn't really changed much in years...
And one last thing, you compare govt connections and wifi in a city... Erm, the whole thing is about bringing broadband to rural areas, where wifi won't be an option... In cities, there is already a lot of competition...