Government proposes free WIFI over government airwaves

[oragator1]

This would be really cool. The fight will be google and Microsoft vs. Verizon, ATT, etc.

The federal government wants to create super WiFi networks across the nation, so powerful and broad in reach that consumers could use them to make calls or surf the Internet without paying a cellphone bill every month.
The proposal from the Federal Communications Commission has rattled the $178 billion wireless industry, which has launched a fierce lobbying effort to persuade policymakers to reconsider the idea, analysts say. That has been countered by an equally intense campaign from Google, Microsoft and other tech giants who say a free-for-all WiFi service would spark an explosion of innovations and devices that would benefit most Americans, especially the poor.
The airwaves that FCC officials want to hand over to the public would be much more powerful than existing WiFi networks that have become common in households. They could penetrate thick concrete walls and travel over hills and around trees. If all goes as planned, free access to the Web would be available in just about every metropolitan area and in many rural areas.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...5ee_story.html

[surfn1080]

If govt has it hands on it, it would suck...

[kygator]

Originally Posted by surfn1080

If govt has it hands on it, it would suck...

And yet, still cost a lot of money.

[thedyc09]

I'm all for it. Telecom giants are among the worst companies in the world. Put a tower in my backyard and I'll gladly tell Comcast where to stick it. I know that Estonia leads the world in average internet speed, so there's no reason major metropolitan areas can't copy whatever they're doing.

The average download speed in Estonia: 46.35 Mbps

The average download speed in America (as of 2010): 3 Mbps

[gregthegator]

Much easier TO RECORD all conversations THAT way...program in just like THE show..."Person of Interest"....just EVEN more ability to TRACK you

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Originally Posted by surfn1080

If govt has it hands on it, it would suck...

Well the government sure has its hands in the Internet in general. Make of that what you will.

[wgbgator]

Originally Posted by surfn1080

If govt has it hands on it, it would suck...

In private hands, our wi-fi & data services are already pretty terrible as it stands.

[MichiGator2002]

First thought I had was "reasonable expectation of privacy". Second was "worst ISP ever".

[gregthegator]

Originally Posted by wgbgator

In private hands, our wi-fi & data services are already pretty terrible as it stands.

Yes....gov't makes EVERYTHING better 'eh....like package delivery and postal service...

or ask any Vet about the VA vs seeing other docs

[wgbgator]

Originally Posted by gregthegator

Yes....gov't makes EVERYTHING better 'eh....like package delivery and postal service...

or ask any Vet about the VA vs seeing other docs

If the private sector is great at ISP & data service, it should have no problem competing with the lousy gov't.

[MichiGator2002]

Originally Posted by wgbgator

Its this type of reflexive idiocy that stands in the way of good policy. If the private sector is great at ISP & data service, it should have no problem competing with the lousy gov't.

The government has no business getting into the ISP business in the first place, whether they think they would he good at it or not.

But seriously, do you have any reason to think they would do better than they do against FedEx or UPS?

[ChartsandGrafs]

Originally Posted by wgbgator

If the private sector is great at ISP & data service, it should have no problem competing with the lousy gov't.

Yeah, that's some fair competition alright. The private sector actually has to develop quality goods and services to earn a buck, while the government can just steal it.

[wgbgator]

Originally Posted by MichiGator2002

The government has no business getting into the ISP business in the first place, whether they think they would he good at it or not.

But seriously, do you have any reason to think they would do better than they do against FedEx or UPS?

Yeah, yeah. The gov't has no business in anything other than what you think it has business in.

I use the US mail and FedEx & UPS regularly. They all seem to coexist and I have really no major complaints about the service from any of them.

[wgbgator]

Originally Posted by ChartsandGrafs

Yeah, that's some fair competition alright. The private sector actually has to develop quality goods and services to earn a buck, while the government can just steal it.

So, you're saying that the private sector cant compete with gov't?

[magnafides]

Originally Posted by wgbgator

If the private sector is great at ISP & data service, it should have no problem competing with the lousy gov't.

In the few cases where local government has built a municipal broadband network (and the incumbents haven't successfully lobbied to block it), they've been able to provide better service for less money. With that said, the real problem here is lack of competition in a natural monopoly. Service providers are charging more and more, even as capital expenditure and marginal cost decrease.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Get your government hands off my Internet!

[ChartsandGrafs]

Originally Posted by wgbgator

So, you're saying that the private sector cant compete with gov't?

Why, do you think the government can compete with the private sector without threats, coercion, and stealing?

[wargunfan]

There would be huge costs to set up and run this putative government surveillance system which would be passed on to all tax payers whether or not they used the system. I say keep it in the private sector where real jobs would be created and some privacy can be expected.

[Row6]

May or may not be a good idea, depending on details and putting aside knee jerk anti-government rants. It is true that the US lags behind the rest of the world in wireless service, including many third world countries, and that a unified national system could provide the means for advancement in many untold ways across the nation, much as does the federal interstate highway system and as did the Rural Electrification Administration in the 1930's.

[mdgator05]

Originally Posted by orangeblueorangeblue

Get your government hands off my Internet!

Yah I use the private Internet not that awful government Internet. It is so much better. There are like 3 of us on it, and, trust me, it is awesome.