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M2Z's Free, Wireless Broadband Killed In Advance
mspohr writes with a sad excerpt from Fast Company: "Despite a seemingly stout business plan, and all the financial, social, and educational benefits it would bring, the FCC's just turned down M2Z's application for a coast-to-coast free wireless broadband system. ... The FCC is known to have heard complaints about M2Z's plan from existing wireless carriers. Though M2Z's network would've operated at under 1 Mbps peak speeds — meaning it was very slow by today's standards, and probably snail-like by tomorrow's — its free pricing may well have tempted many folks away from spending cash with an established ISP. Those carriers are now reported to be pleased with the FCC's decision, though they argue it's in line with the greater National Broadband Plan. Whenever that actually gets off the ground."
I'm opposed to this free internet, because I feel that it would feed the lazy drains on society that are the people that just stay on welfare and do not try to get off their feet and get a job, which is a purpose of the welfare program. With the free internet, now they wouldn't even have to choose between food or internet (which happens to be internet for a large portion of the people on the program). If you wanted free internet you could go down to your local public library (Gasp!) , local or national coffee shop, etc. Contrary to popular belief here on /. is that the internet is not a right. Saying that would be television should have been a right before the internet became mainstream. So as great of an idea this is, I think that their are other consequences if it happens. There are other other right that we already have that are being trampled on that are getting ignored, and people are demanding free internet. It almost sounds like it's a drug addiction.