Free Wifi Is Illegal In Some States
StormLiong
Join Date: 2002-12-27 Member: 11569Members
Join Date: 2002-12-27 Member: 11569Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">suprised this has not been talked about</div> <a href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24888-2004Dec1.html' target='_blank'>Telecoms Winning the Wifi War</a>
<a href='http://www.muniwireless.com/archives/000515.html' target='_blank'>Verizon Wins, Penns Loses</a>
In a nutshell, the city council of Philadelphia wanted to provide low-cost (or free) wifi access to the poor areas of the city where broadband access is still hard to get. Verizon gets all in a craze and say like "No you cant do that. You will be competing with my own wifi services. And because you are able to provide it free and right now, I will lose. Not fair!"
And it all lead to a legislation that is already been approved in other states in the US where by any city in the state that wants to provide a free wifi service must first consult the main ISP in this case it will be like Verizon, COmcast etc etc.
What makes me so mad is how the local goverment can bow down to such corporate demand. In the aftermath though, the Philadelphia city has been allowed to go ahead with its free wifi plans. And the legislation that was passed still has some consumer input i into it with something like, if Verizon rejects a city council's application, Verizon themselves must start setting up wifi access in that area within 14 months or else the city council can step in.
<a href='http://www.muniwireless.com/archives/000515.html' target='_blank'>Verizon Wins, Penns Loses</a>
In a nutshell, the city council of Philadelphia wanted to provide low-cost (or free) wifi access to the poor areas of the city where broadband access is still hard to get. Verizon gets all in a craze and say like "No you cant do that. You will be competing with my own wifi services. And because you are able to provide it free and right now, I will lose. Not fair!"
And it all lead to a legislation that is already been approved in other states in the US where by any city in the state that wants to provide a free wifi service must first consult the main ISP in this case it will be like Verizon, COmcast etc etc.
What makes me so mad is how the local goverment can bow down to such corporate demand. In the aftermath though, the Philadelphia city has been allowed to go ahead with its free wifi plans. And the legislation that was passed still has some consumer input i into it with something like, if Verizon rejects a city council's application, Verizon themselves must start setting up wifi access in that area within 14 months or else the city council can step in.
Comments
It's internet access. It's not the water company stopping providing water, it's not the gas or electricity company cutting off your supply, no, it's internet access. Nobody is going to die without internet access.
EDIT: Except maybe me, but i'm a special case.
It's internet access. It's not the water company stopping providing water, it's not the gas or electricity company cutting off your supply, no, it's internet access. Nobody is going to die without internet access.
EDIT: Except maybe me, but i'm a special case. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well its not about the importance of the service. Its not a total loss if you do not have internet access. But its the fact that here is a city council trying to serve its people by providing easily accessible wifi to those that do not have it and then a big company comes in and say they cant with the backing of the goverment.
<!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
It's internet access. It's not the water company stopping providing water, it's not the gas or electricity company cutting off your supply, no, it's internet access. Nobody is going to die without internet access.
EDIT: Except maybe me, but i'm a special case. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe not now but in 20 or so years I gaurentee you internet access will be just as important as your regular utilities.
It's internet access. It's not the water company stopping providing water, it's not the gas or electricity company cutting off your supply, no, it's internet access. Nobody is going to die without internet access.
EDIT: Except maybe me, but i'm a special case. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe not now but in 20 or so years I gaurentee you internet access will be just as important as your regular utilities. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
i have to agree
And there is a place where they actually mandated that internet access is a necessary utility. I can't remember where it is but it exists.
It's internet access. It's not the water company stopping providing water, it's not the gas or electricity company cutting off your supply, no, it's internet access. Nobody is going to die without internet access.
EDIT: Except maybe me, but i'm a special case. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe not now but in 20 or so years I gaurentee you internet access will be just as important as your regular utilities. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe so, but we need gas to cook our food, electricity to warm our houses, water so we can wash and not go thirsty, i don't think the neverending library of wank material that is the internet isn't quite as crucial for everyone to have. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
But THEN how will we keep the proles under control???
Wait so if the Verizon blocks the city's wifi attempts, Verizon has to provide it for free anyway?
Yeah, really. And what's the deal with this whole "horseless carriage" contraption I've been hearing about? Surly it can't be better than the original.
It's internet access. It's not the water company stopping providing water, it's not the gas or electricity company cutting off your supply, no, it's internet access. Nobody is going to die without internet access.
EDIT: Except maybe me, but i'm a special case. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's not the point. The real issue is that la nariz del Verizon is being stuck in places that it doesn't need to be, comprende? None of those lower class fellows are going to pay a large percentage of their salary for internet access. Competition? Yeah ****ing right. If anything, trying to deny the city the right to give these guys access is downright spiteful.
Over here the goverment decided that everybody should have broadband access even if they don´t want it.
So, I have broadband now. My landlord called and that was that.
A few years ago they decide that everybody needs a computer (same deal).
But THEN how will we keep the proles under control???
Wait so if the Verizon blocks the city's wifi attempts, Verizon has to provide it for free anyway? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Hmm, not sure if Verizon is obligated to provide it free. They probably still charge it at the regular price that they would charge. I think in a recent Wired mag interview with the senior VP of broadband in Verizon said something like when they provide wifi access to an area that <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->(Verizon) have to make an investement committent...and service level committement....and (the investements) are quite substantial<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> meaning that Verizon will probbably want to get their money back from any access provided.
Over here the goverment decided that everybody should have broadband access even if they don´t want it.
So, I have broadband now. My landlord called and that was that.
A few years ago they decide that everybody needs a computer (same deal).<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Oh, "over here!" Yeah, "over here" is definitely a great place to be. Too bad I'm over there, I'd love to be over here.
(Your profile info doesn't say where you're from. Which country is the land of free broadband?)
Over here the goverment decided that everybody should have broadband access even if they don´t want it.
So, I have broadband now. My landlord called and that was that.
A few years ago they decide that everybody needs a computer (same deal).<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Oh, "over here!" Yeah, "over here" is definitely a great place to be. Too bad I'm over there, I'd love to be over here.
(Your profile info doesn't say where you're from. Which country is the land of free broadband?) <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I beleive the UK, I remember a while back reading about the government handing out free computers...
Yea, because we all know the educational value of pr0n.
What about this forum? It's on the Internet, too.
If the Internet isn't important, why pay the bills for the Internet connection? Wait - you mean you have to <i>pay</i> for it, when you <b>could</b> have gotten it for free? You mean people won't have to go to their local library and use their outdated computer equipment to connect and browse at 56K?
Yet it's okay for a company to step and in and stop it, because Internet connections aren't important/essential? Why are you on the Internet if it ranks so low on the priority list? Why is it okay for a company to prevent users who want but can't afford an Internet connection, when you've shown it's important enough in your life to subscribe to it?
shouldnt they also make a law stating that leaks are illegal?
i wouldnt be posting here if thats the case though...lol
<!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' /><!--endemo--> Holy Sh*t. <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I hate companies like this, they cant stand to see themselfs lose their 1/10000000000000 of the money they make :/
That generally means that you hate companies. Companies exist to make money. Don't delude yourself, no company wants to see you smile. They want to see you with your hands shoved deep in your pockets because there's no money in there to take up the space. They want to maximize their profits. That's why they're companies. The family image is just a front.
That generally means that you hate companies. Companies exist to make money. Don't delude yourself, no company wants to see you smile. They want to see you with your hands shoved deep in your pockets because there's no money in there to take up the space. They want to maximize their profits. That's why they're companies. The family image is just a front. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
And the only real reason why Verizon doesn't like organisations as big like the city council to provide free internet.
That generally means that you hate companies. Companies exist to make money. Don't delude yourself, no company wants to see you smile. They want to see you with your hands shoved deep in your pockets because there's no money in there to take up the space. They want to maximize their profits. That's why they're companies. The family image is just a front. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I agree with this however, since when can a family with a total income of say 30k and below be bothered to pay Verizon or any other ISP for access.
How are they losing profits they wouldn't have made in the first place.
If you ask me, this is just spite. And it sickens me.
I would much rather have my money go in to paying for public terminals that anyone can use.