Internet For All in Europe 186
evileyetmc writes "It seems that the EU has taken the next big step in promoting the concept of Internet for All, by attempting to 'ensure that the most Web-disadvantaged groups can get online.'" From the article: "The EC has now pledged to increase broadband coverage across the continent to 90 percent by 2010. Rural areas are still underserved, according to the Commission, with about 60 percent penetration. Urban areas fare better and are already at the 90 percent mark. The EC has also committed to putting new measures in place to halve exclusion rates in skills and digital literacy by 2010. "
Re:I wonder how history will judge us (Score:3, Interesting)
The U.S. will resemble Manhattan. The EU will resemble Woodstock. As I live midway between these two places and frequent them both, I can tell you that each are interesting -- nay, captivating -- in their own way. Neither place is "better;" each has its fanatical supporters and detractors. I fall in love with, and am infuriated by, both on a regular basis.
The questions "Where Would You Prefer to Live?" and "Where Would You Prefer to Work?," as relates to these two cultural paradigms, are the fundamental queries here.
This is probably a step in a wider plan.... (Score:5, Interesting)
Several european countries (with the scandinavians pretty far in the lead) are moving as many government services as possible online in order to save on paperwork and other costs. However, especially in Denmark, they observed that this leads to the problem of the elderly and other subgroups not having proper access to those services, or the adequate ability to use the tools necessary to interact with public services.
This is increasingly going to be an issue in countries where you can't, for instance, pay your taxes without online, and universal access, if it proves cheaper than the amount saved by streamlining other services, is clearly the way to go.
Re:Internet shouldn't be for all (Score:2, Interesting)
EU US bullshit ... Or Reality ? (Score:1, Interesting)
In u.s., big businesses legalize almost everything to meet their ends, in expense of the people. Which means the MAJORITY of the nation.
They BUY lobbyists, these MISLEAD people, they DONATE to congressmen, these vote for their 'masters' instead of the constituents, and the big business gets its way.
When someone comes up and says "Hey, theyre reducing the people to dust. They are taking away opportunities from us. They are controlling us. There should be regulations", PAID lobbyists and 'think tank's come up and howl that "business should be free, hands off business and hands off shit and that". And they get their way. S/he/they who warn about the danger are labeled "fuckin liberal green commies". But IN THE END what happens is that THE MAJORITY of the people, EVEN the ones who label opposition DOES NOT get anything out of what big corporations do, they are just messed up further.
And here we have europe. There are HORDES of "fuckin liberal green commies" in power all around the europe, and in european commissions.
And these "fuckin liberal commies" blurt out HORDES of regulations, laws, directives each year, the rights of PEOPLE, the EQUALITY in rights and opportunities, the DEMOCRACY is preserved and furthered AND YET BUSINESS CONTINUES TO GROW ALL OVER EUROPE.
Here we have another example. Small steps adding up to an utopic internet, and no surprise; again in europe.
While u.s. is being HERDED in the other way by AT&T, europe goes on the road that leaves internet as we know it and furthers it.
Yet, still u.s. people do not rise up to the fact that, if you let businesses TOO MUCH FREEDOM, some get too big and TAKE CONTROL OF SOCIETY.
And whenever someone points out the difference between the status of u.s. and eu, its labeled as 'eu>us crap'
Well, its your problem before ours. We arent the ones who are being governed BY AT&T.
And i would wish the people who are annoyed with the way things are going in u.s. would migrate to europe.
Re:The question is, what KIND of internet? (Score:2, Interesting)
I wish they had thought this over better because a simple computer with ubuntu on it would be much better in terms of userfriendlyness and security. Now they know that in a few months these computers will be filled with spyware because granny didn't buy a firewall.
Further more, these will miss the point completely I think, these computers will be bought by people who need an extra computer for the kids or so. These will not close the gap between poor and rich.
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on any of the points above.
Re:I wonder how history will judge us (Score:4, Interesting)
GP's point was about the Net Neutrality thing issue, not about the cost of broadband.
States subsidies the pipes, then forbits anyone to hog them for himself. In france, it was done via deblocking for example, the historical operator (France Telecom) who owned all the pipes was forced by law to let concurrents access these pipes directly up to the very consumer's house (that's total deblocking, partial deblocking means that the alernative operators get direct access to the DSLAMs and the local loop is still the historical operator's turf).
Granted the price of broadband may stay high, but if what happened in france is any indication it won't.
Let the phishing begin! (Score:2, Interesting)
- how will the "Web-disadvantaged" connect to the Internet? will the government supply some of those $100 PCs that are being developed for the third world?
- who is going to handle the tech support when these folks run into problems?
- what happens when these folks, who don't have a lot of experience on the web, get e-mail from some poor woman from Nigeria who is trying to get $10Million out of her country and is willing to give a kind person 10% or 20% if they would send her their bank account numbers? will the government reimburse them?
i think it would be great if the web became like the phone system where nearly everyone has some type of low-cost access if they want it and it has a fairly simple interface. But we're not even close at this point. the web is barely 10-12 years old. how long did it take to roll out phone service to the current level?
If only the U.S....... (Score:1, Interesting)
I hate to say it, but I would honestly like to see a government body take over the control of the physical copper lines. That would be the only way to break up this monopoly in a way that doesn't allow it to come back. No one company should be able to control the copper as well as the services going over the copper. Imagine if only one company was allowed to have trucks capable of carrying water. And then we turn around and give that same company all the land that has drinkable water on it and tell them "now play nice" but don't do anything when they don't play nice. What do you really think that company that's responsible to stock holders and NOT to the public that needs the water will do? Probably not the best anology but still gets the point accross.
Fiberlines, but no broadband - welcome to Europe (Score:3, Interesting)
regards,
Stirz