PressEthic

According to this BBC News article, telecom companies in San Francisco and Philly are in an uproar over the proposal of the cities to provide free/cheap WiFi access to all of their residents. The companies stand to lose millions, and I almost feel bad for them – almost.

I am on the side of San Francisco’s mayor: "This is inevitable - wi-fi. It is long overdue. It is to me a fundamental right to have access universally to information," he said in the BBC News article.

In other words, the library just doesn’t cut it anymore. Those who can’t afford broadband are at a disadvantage in our society because they don’t have the immediate and convenient access to crucial information.

According to the BBC News article, “Studies suggest that 86% of households with income of more than $75,000 have broadband access. But the share is just 38% for those with an income of less than $30,000.”

The cities are not going to buy laptops for people, but at least the cheap WiFi will help those who can’t afford broadband. Does this mean I don’t have to live in Panera Bread anymore? I like the coffee, but I can drink only so much before I start to shake. If the bill that supports it passes, and the plan works, I hope other cities – ahem, New York City – will provide low-cost WiFi too.

Gregg Gerdau, in his response to the BBC News article, agrees with the mayor as well:

Ubiquitous connectivity to the internet via wireless technologies provides a level playing field for the underprivileged, students, the elderly and all classes of people to engage in their own socio-economic milieu equally, and the same opportunity to engage in others. Along with wireless radio, television and telephone, the wireless internet has become an inevitability.

Well said, Mr. Gerdau.

And by the way, nice job Google. Instead of sitting back and watching the money roll-in, Google continues to be aggressive. According to the BBC News article, Google has offered to provide the citywide WiFi in San Francisco for free, paying for it with advertisements.

As for the telecom companies that are fighting the cities’ plans, they should cut their losses and join in the effort to provide this modern-day necessity to all.