Obviously we should turn Internet Access into a utility like Hydro and water. Make connection cost-free so that anyone can connect, and then a $1/GB above a 10 GB limit. Perhaps exempt certain approved services like government information, health services, and Wikipedia from the cap.
We’ll also need to ban competing services to prevent them from cherry-picking the high-volume revenue generating customers.
That way, every citizen gets access to Internet to access services required to function in the modern economy. Heavy users of non-essential data, who are overwhelmingly wealthy (earning above median wages or living with someone who is), will subsidize connection to the tens of millions who do not have ready home access to this basic human requirement.
As well, by employing civil servants rather than independent contractors, we can ensure those involved in providing these vital services are paid properly with decent pensions, rather than exploited as the cheapest cost providers. Not only would the initial roll-out involve significant employment gains, but because, unlike water and hydro which are upgraded every 25 years or so, we’d be involved in technological upgrades at least every decade, the employment gains would remain high.
The current system leaves out millions of under-served Americans and exploits hundreds of thousands of underpaid workers. It is time for this to stop NOW.
:-)?
