FCC chairman dreams of free mobile internet for all Americans
By Darren Murph 
posted Aug 20th 2008 6:42PM
posted Aug 20th 2008 6:42PM
Just over a year ago, we were all making bitter beer faces at FCC chairman Kevin Martin for not going along with a delightful sounding "free internet" plan. Now, it seems the main man's tune has changed. During a recent interview, Martin stated that there was a "social obligation in making sure everybody could participate in the next generation of broadband services because, increasingly, that's what people want." He's reportedly looking to attach a free mobile broadband requirement to the AWS-3 spectrum that's set to be auctioned next year, which would require the winner to allocate 25% for gratis access. 'Course, we wouldn't get our hopes us for this to actually go down like it surely is playing out in your mind just now, but we won't fault you for dreamin'.[Via phonescoop]
Uhh, old-ish news. The Interview's the only thing new, and it completely ignores the fact that Martin wants this Internet to be strictly censored for smut and pornographic material.
hmm...free internet...never happening.
Free mobile Internet for all and free tax increases to maintain the free mobile internet.
i respect this man! :-)
What do you expect? Most employees in the public sector are socialist communistic bastards. Sure the prospect of "free" internet looks good in the eyes of an uneducated populace, but it'll be regulated like a mofo just like all government agencies tend to do.
LordObento and jacka$$1,
Tax increases, blah blah, socialist communistic bastards, blah, blah.Keep shouting the mantra of "government is bad", and keep voting the way you obviously do to achieve your self-fulfilling prophecy.
We've all seen the way that power utilities, sewer and water, and healthcare work best when in the hands of private corporations, without "unnecessary government oversight".
I'm not saying I want the government in charge of the internet (this one just got a green light from itself to continue spying on you), but let's be realistic, there are certain things that government does well, that if left to private enterprise would be crippled, with everything costing more for "extras" like touch-tone service under the AT&T Ma Bell System.
Give it some honest thought. Would you rather have an HMO telling you which doctor you can see and denying payment for "unapproved" treatments? Is it better to have a system bled dry by
having administrative tasks duplicated throughout the system, resulting in 1/3 of the money not going to supplying the core service?
Would I feel alright with paying $5 a year in higher sales taxes or property taxes or income taxes to supply broadband service to everyone, and remove my existing bill? Hell yes.