Wireless Internet as a Public Good

[Huckleburry]

I am writing my senior honors thesis on Wireless internet as a public good. I am still in the planning stages and would like to hear people's thoughts.

Alternatively, I may write on American Competitiveness after Sarbanes-Oxley.

Thoughts?

 

[Annie]

I am writing my senior honors thesis on Wireless internet as a public good. I am still in the planning stages and would like to hear people's thoughts.

Alternatively, I may write on American Competitiveness after Sarbanes-Oxley.

Thoughts?

Are you speaking of government agencies providing wi-fi throughout an area?

 

[Said1]

Are you speaking of government agencies providing wi-fi throughout an area?

It would be kind of neat if it was turned into a utility ie: put in a quarter and check your e-mail - to many germs can be spread doing that though. :laugh"

 

[BaronVonBigmeat]

I assume by "public" good, you're actually talking about the plans of various cities (or was it just one? I can't remember) to provide "free" wi-fi internet access.

As far as ideas go, this one stinks.

The taxes to pay for it will be a drag on the economy, somehow/someway. The government intrusion into the economy will be a huge obstacle for any private startups who were looking at private wi-fi. Since you've discouraged private wi-fi, you'll be sure to see a lack of technological advancement.

I think the reasoning was (going on memory here) that inner-city youths would be left behind technologically speaking, and not have access to high-paying jobs. I'd say that's the least of their problems. All the socialism and shiny gadgets in the world won't change the fact that little Tyrone doesn't know who his father is, and has grown up being raised by gangs instead.

 

[Huckleburry]

Rhode Island (where I go to school) is building the first boarder to boarder wireless network. The rational behind this project is that it will be an engine of innovation and economic growth.

I am planning on arguing that broad band connectivity has become essential to commerce. As such it should be viewed as a matter of infastructure and provided by the government. Think of the internet as a road. You don't have to pay a toll everytime you want to leave your driveway and if you did the transaction cost of would be enourmous, so much so that it would stifle commerce and negatively impact the economy. Broad Band connectivity is really no different. It is essential to commerce and should be included in the infastructure.

 

[Annie]

Rhode Island (where I go to school) is building the first boarder to boarder wireless network. The rational behind this project is that it will be an engine of innovation and economic growth.

I am planning on arguing that broad band connectivity has become essential to commerce. As such it should be viewed as a matter of infastructure and provided by the government. Think of the internet as a road. You don't have to pay a toll everytime you want to leave your driveway and if you did the transaction cost of would be enourmous, so much so that it would stifle commerce and negatively impact the economy. Broad Band connectivity is really no different. It is essential to commerce and should be included in the infastructure.

I might be wrong, but if the idea is commerce, well dammit they can provide for it. On the other hand, if one wishes to argue that it's the wave of the future for news, emergency alerts, entertainment, and the jurisdiction doesn't wish to leave anyone out, there is a case to be made.

Just my opinion.

 

[MtnBiker]

How would it be funded?

 

[Huckleburry]

The same way other infastructure projects are funded. Taxes.

In RI a non-profit is putting the project together. Stake holders contribute to its construction and as a result get a certain amount of bandwidth to use as they please. The state, Universities, and Utility companies have thus far been the biggest contributors.

 

[MtnBiker]

The same way other infastructure projects are funded. Taxes.

Well sure, but in what manner? You made a reference to roads which are funded through tax on gas. How would you tax internet users?

What if I already have internet service that I am quite happy paying for, does the govenernment still tax me? Are private servers elimanted from the market? What if I don't have a computer do I still get taxed?

 

[Hobbit]

I don't like it. It's essentially forcing me to pay for internet access whether I want it or not. Right now, I can get wi-fi access for free in several cafes or I can choose to pay for broadband wi-fi in major cities if I want. I don't use it, because I prefer a desktop to a laptop. On the other hand, if the government makes border to border wireless, and I don't take advantage of it, then I'm being forced to pay for a service I'm not using, and it will also put companies offering wireless access out of business, not to mention every ISP in the state if this all comes with internet access. The service will probably also become bloated and inefficient since you're not allowed to take your money elsewhere. Government needs to step aside and let private enterprise work instead of taking over everything 'for the public good.'

 

[Huckleburry]

What about schools. You pay for those even if you don't have kids in them. People with out cars pay for roads, and oil subsidies even though they don't use it.

Do we benefit from greater connectivity? I argue that we do. Moreover, once the platform is provided private enterprise will begin working on ways to use it effeciently. You may never fly on a airplane or see a port but you benefit from their existence. This is really no different

 

[Hobbit]

What about schools. You pay for those even if you don't have kids in them. People with out cars pay for roads, and oil subsidies even though they don't use it.

Do we benefit from greater connectivity? I argue that we do. Moreover, once the platform is provided private enterprise will begin working on ways to use it effeciently. You may never fly on a airplane or see a port but you benefit from their existence. This is really no different

I'm in favor of the privatization of schools. Roads are paid for by gas tax. Everybody uses oil, whether they know it or not.

 

[Huckleburry]

Roads are not funded through a gas tax alone and even if they were it would not matter because gas is not traded at market rate.

We accept that certain things are essential to economic growth. I am making the case that connectivity has crossed that threshold.

Also, privatized schools would create a class society (england) and hurt our long run economic growth.

That is all

Huck

 

[MtnBiker]

I'm still wonder how it will be taxed.

By each person, on property, by each computer, how?

 

[MtnBiker]

Roads are not funded through a gas tax alone and even if they were it would not matter because gas is not traded at market rate.

Gas is tax on a unit rate, per gallon.

 

[Huckleburry]

I have not gotten that far. Nor for the purposes of my thesis do I think I will. However I suspect that it will be paid for by the general income. Not everything we payfor has a specfic tax associated with it.

 

[MtnBiker]

But it will have a specific budget. That budget will need to be funded somehow. I wouldn't expect some other bureaucracy to give up funds.

This really amazes me. A purposed public utility yet no specific way to pay for it.

 

[ErikViking]

I am sceptical.

I don't think a tax funded ambition for wireless broadband connections will ever be needed. It is just that it feels so easy right now to hook up to a wirless accesspoint. I think mobile phone capacity - GPRS or whatever soon enough will be capable of delivering the bandwith you need. Then you pay for it as usual too.

Also some wireless equipment already interferes with cordless phones, - this technology on a large sacle is not the future IMO.

 

[rtwngAvngr]

I am writing my senior honors thesis on Wireless internet as a public good. I am still in the planning stages and would like to hear people's thoughts.

Alternatively, I may write on American Competitiveness after Sarbanes-Oxley.

Thoughts?

Making free public access will open the door to onerous and freedom nullifying censorship of the internet. Bad idea.

 

[rtwngAvngr]

Huck, would you be in favor of transferring control of the internet to the U.N.?