When will the internet be free?

1. 56

   Blair Cooperposted 10 years ago

   When will the internet be free?
   
   When I was growing up there seemed to be a distinct class war growing  between those who had regular access to the web and the who didn't. From school children on. Obviously this is still a major global issue but and what point does access to internet information become a civil service if ever..? It has obviously had great benefit on society thus far.

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2. 71

   dashingscorpioposted 10 years ago

   I don't know if it will ever be completely free for (in home) use.
   However we're starting to see free Wi-Fi in many public places, restaurants, libraries, hotels, hospitals, airports, and so forth.
   Chicago  is already the largest provider of free internet access through its 80 locations in communities and has plans to expand it's pilot program. It's likely more towns and cities will follow suit.
   Chicago even has a program called "On the Go" which will also allow library patrons the ability to borrow a laptop or mobile device from the library in order to (connect to the internet from home or on the go).The goal is make the Internet assessable for most people.

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   1. 76

      Patty Inglish, MSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      "On the Go" sounds cool.

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3. 76

   Patty Inglish, MSposted 10 years ago

   I heard about the "Outernet" project for placing satellites in space to provide free long-range WIFI Internet worldwide. Media Development Investment Fund of New York is financing the project across three years, 2015 - 2018, but it still may be cost prohibitive.

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4. 0

   twodawgsposted 10 years ago

   You mean, such as fire fighters, police, and ambulance services?  We actually do pay for those, by paying taxes.  In some places, people are charged fees for calling those services, on top of what they pay in taxes.
   
   As others have mentioned, there are some businesses who have an incentive to provide freely available wifi to some areas.  However, home internet service is no more likely to become a "free" civil service than our utilities have.  I don't know anyone who gets their electricity, water, natural gas, or cable TV for free.

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5. 59

   WestelCSposted 10 years ago

   I don’t think we will have free access of internet but yes we can get connected with everyone to low-cost, high-speed bandwidth. There are many such facilities and solving the problem with mobile data – connectivity via mobile phones.

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