Today my small native Finland, greatly loved and missed here in Germany, made me proud. From today, a broadband connection is guaranteed for every Finn, lawmakers made it the citizen's legal right.
Finland is the first country in the world to do this, the rest of European Union is thought to follow in a few years time.
Kari
Finland first country to make broadband a 'legal right'
A right? That's oddly worded.
I mean I don't think any civilized country /forbids/ broadband connectivity (yet). It's pretty much a "right" as it is. Anyone can buy it if they want.
Same with power, phone, water, sewer etc... None of those are free (Except for special circumstances), but everyone has a "right" to get them if they want.
And though cable/fiber may not go to every home, satellite is an option nearly everywhere already.
By calling it a legal right the legislators mean ISP's are obliged to provide a broadband connection to every home, making it a fundamental right. IMO this is very important law.
For instance if your house is in the middle of nowhere, the cost to get a line to you can be so high that no normal worker can afford to pay it. From today, the ISP has an obligation to build the line, and offer broadband to you at the same cost than other customers pay. Country is divided to regions, and every region has one ISP appointed by the state who has this obligation.
Also, making a broadband connection a fundamental right the legislators are controlling the price. No citizen should pay more than €30 a month from a 1 Mbps line, or €40 from a faster line, however expensive it was for ISP to get the line to you.
I'm sorry Fseal but I completely miss your point. IMO this is fabulous! Finally the legislators have stated that an internet connection belongs to citizens fundamental rights.
Kari
No offense, but I don't like this idea at all. Broadband Internet access should not be considered a right, it's a privilege. I also don't like the idea of government controlling broadband prices, it causes too many problems (as proven by history). Half of Finland's ISPs are probably going to go out of business building expensive lines without charging enough money to pay for them.
I hope our legislators don't try to do something like this.
Let's all agree to disagree!
What happens with ISP/Broadband Internet access in one country may or may not work in another country.
Just be thankful we have Broadband Internet access and are able to discuss our differences here in this forum.
You are completely right. The two points of view are basically those of Europe and the US. The first tending towards a social welfare type of government, where mandatory internet access and price control are a natural thing. I doubt many companies will go out of business, the government will rescue them if it happens. Now, check how much the individuals pay in taxes... that is just their tax money coming back to them.
In the US we are used to a capitalist / market driven economy. You buy what you can (or what someone agrees to finance) and the companies that are not efficient do not survive (OK, that is not a general rule, but it works in many cases). Instead of taxes being paid to the government which decides how to spread it, the money goes directly into the economy. The difference between the tip and the bottom of the wealth pyramid is much larger though.
In short, different systems for different realities. There is no better or worse, it all depends
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