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[Lard]

http://www.techspot.com/news/39493-finland-makes-broadband-internet-access-a-legal-right.html

Finland has become the first country in the world to grant citizens with the legal right to in-home broadband Internet. As of today, Finns have the right to access a 1Mb/s broadband connection, and the country plans to increase that to 100Mb/s by 2015. Talking to the BBC, Finland's communication minister Suvi Linden explained that the Internet isn't just an entertainment medium, but is also a crucial part of an informed society.

"Finland has worked hard to develop an information society and a couple of years ago we realised not everyone had access," she said. As much as 96% of the country's 5.2 million people are already online, leaving only about 4,000 homes that need to be connected in accordance with the new law. By comparison, the UK government aims to provide 99% of its population with 2Mb/s speeds by 2012 (up from 73%) – although there's no law.

In the US, the FCC is pushing for a similar standard with its National Broadband Plan. Like Finland, the agency believes the Internet is a valuable resource and US citizens should have cheap, speedy access. In fact, the FCC expects the Internet to displace phones, TV and other conventional communication technologies. It hopes broadband Internet will exist in 90% of US homes over the next decade, compared to around 65% currently.

 

[RiskyChris]

That's just incredible. Wow.

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

Good for Finland! Please conquer Canada and get rid of Bell/Rogers monopoly!

 

[JackWallabee]

scandinavia is always one step ahead.

 

[cartoon_soldier]

FINLAND FUCK YEA

AMERICA FUCK YOU

 

[Medalion]

Finnish him!

 

[MetalAlien]

One more step closer to Ghost in the Machine.

 

[Zeliard]

Finland? More like Fineland.

Hahahahaha

 

[NH Apache]

http://www.techspot.com/news/39493-finland-makes-broadband-internet-access-a-legal-right.html

Hot damn. Great reasoning too.

 

[Celsior]

FINLAND FUCK YEA

AMERICA FUCK YOU

FCC is really pushing for this too, with google's backing. Once google starts to sell internet access it will probably happen.

 

[Keyser Soze]

...and in Ireland, O2 are currently blocking access to random sites such as imgur

Awesome!

 

[Hootie]

Winland

 

[avatar299]

1Mb? That's it. :lol How many people in America don't have the option to obtain that

 

[Hellsing321]

 

[Tesseract]

 

[Geneijin]

...explained that the Internet isn't just an entertainment medium, but is also a crucial part of an informed society.

Amen.

Wish similar initiatives get passed here in the U.S. soon then

 

[Stridone]

Well played. :lol

 

[Konosuke]

I remember when I had to pay for a 512Kbps connection :lol Good show Finland!

 

[Keyser Soze]

1Mb? That's it. :lol How many people in America don't have the option to obtain that

It may be small, but at least they have a legal right to have broadband. Anywhere outside the big cites in Ireland is terrible in regards to broadband, with the only option for some been mobile broadband dongles (midband), which themselves dont even work half the time

... I am sure there are some locations in America that would benefit from this too.

 

[Doytch]

Wait, so do they get "free" internet, or does everyone just have to have the ability to buy a 1Mb line?

 

[jamesinclair]

1Mb? That's it. :lol How many people in America don't have the option to obtain that

Less laughing, more reading the OP?

"It hopes broadband Internet will exist in 90% of US homes over the next decade, compared to around 65% currently."

 

[-PXG-]

GAF, lets all move to Finland. Evilore, pay for our plane tickets and moving expenses. We can all live in apartment complex, or build our own. It will kind of be like college again. Could be fun or really really lame :lol

 

[avatar299]

Less laughing, more reading the OP?

"It hopes broadband Internet will exist in 90% of US homes over the next decade, compared to around 65% currently."

:lol Jesus. 65% of the U.S is about the total population of Finland 3x over.

It may be small, but at least they have a legal right to have broadband. Anywhere outside the big cites in Ireland is terrible in regards to broadband, with the only option for some been mobile broadband dongles (midband), which themselves dont even work half the time

... I am sure there are some locations in America that would benefit from this too.

Satellite internet is big in those areas, and I've seen 500kp to 3Mb out there

 

[Masta_Killah]

As much as 96% of the country's 5.2 million people are already online

Pretty easy thing to set up with such a small population.

 

[Brobzoid]

Finland is a terribly depressing country, no wonder they'd rather stay in doors and surf the web.

 

[Deleted member 30609]

wow, that's amazing. and the rationale isn't totally without merit, either.

 

[Lard]

Finland is a terribly depressing country, no wonder they'd rather stay in doors and surf the web.

It's not depressing, they just need something to do in those long stretches of dark.

 

[MetatronM]

1Mb? That's it. :lol How many people in America don't have the option to obtain that

Who said they didn't have the option to have more than 1Mb? Just that they are legally entitled, as a fundamental right, to 1Mb. As in, by law, they MUST be provided with at least a 1Mb connection. I'm quite sure they can choose to pay for something better if it's available to them, though.

Here in the US, even a shit dialup connection is still considered a commodity or luxury, technically, not a right.

 

[Jenga]

finland has finally validated its existence

 

[Dresden]

I'm using a 1.5mb dsl right now.

Welcome to the life of those of us who don't live in big cities.

 

[Bboy AJ]

1Mb? That's it. :lol How many people in America don't have the option to obtain that

That's the minimum. If you want to compare, people in America have the legal right to 0 MB.

Good day, sir!!!

 

[GoldenEye 007]

Good for Finland so long as no "regulations" are ever imposed. Don't think I'd support a law like this in the US, though. It's nice, but a necessity to the point of it being law? Don't know about that.

 

[StopMakingSense]

I'm using a 1.5mb dsl right now.

Welcome to the life of those of us who don't live in big cities.

Hell, ATT DSL in Downtown LA is was capped at 1.5mbps . Despite selling me a 3mbps plan...

So glad I moved to Cable internet at my new place.

 

[Trent Strong]

:lol Jesus. 65% of the U.S is about the total population of Finland 3x over.

More like 30 or 40x over.

 

[Dead Man]

1Mb? That's it. :lol How many people in America don't have the option to obtain that

Plenty?

:lol Jesus. 65% of the U.S is about the total population of Finland 3x over.

Yeah, and? What the fuck is your point?

 

[Gozan]

Pretty easy thing to set up with such a small population.

It's about population density, not population size.

 

[El Sloth]

Finland to become the MPAA and RIAA's worst nightmare.

 

[Jeels]

I really don't see how internet is a "right". I know I like the idea of it, and I'm here to praise it too, particularly being all internet-y myself, but it's just not a "right" to me

Yeah, and? What the fuck is your point?

The US has more issues with infrastructure because its a larger population spread out over a much larger land mass compared to these dinky European nations.

 

[CrushDance]

I really don't see how internet is a "right". I know I like the idea of it, and I'm here to praise it too, particularly being all internet-y myself, but it's just not a "right" to me.

Rights change with time.

 

[Rentahamster]

I can sorta see this reasoning being applicable in the USA, since internet access is similar in function and necessity as the post office was 200 years ago. Sorta.

After all, freely flowing information and quick access to politicians and constituents is important to uphold free speech.

 

[tafer]

I wish other countries will follow this amazing idea.

Go Finland!

 

[Gozan]

The US has more issues with infrastructure because its a larger population spread out over a much larger land mass compared to these dinky European nations.

Population density of the US: 32,2/km².
Population density of Finland: 15,9/km².

 

[BobbyRobby]

is the internet access controlled/regulated by the government? who would want that?

 

[Dead Man]

The US has more issues with infrastructure because its a larger population spread out over a much larger land mass compared to these dinky European nations.

Oh, that argument of stupidity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States

It is a very urbanized population, with 81% residing in cities and suburbs as of mid-2005 (the worldwide urban rate was 49%).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finland

Finland currently numbers 5,350,156 inhabitants. It has an average population density of 17 inhabitants per square kilometre.[1] This makes it, after Norway and Iceland, the third most sparsely populated country in Europe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_population_density

178 United States 32.156 (p/km2)
201 Finland 15.864 (p/km2)

Edit:

Population density of the US: 32,2/km².
Population density of Finland: 15,9/km².

Beaten! :lol

 

[Alex Connolly]

Great initiative. Go the Fins!

In any case, it really does point to not so much the issue with government in Australia, but the ability to overhaul a vast network covering an incredibly wide yet low-density population. The ability to recoup installation costs and infrastructure maintenance versus providing equitable services to regional Australia is the big issue.

EDIT: May as well throw down the facts as well.

Australia

Population: 22,335,376
Area: 7,682,300km2 / 2,966,200mi2
Density: 2.907km2 / 7.529mi2

It'd be nice if BHP Billiton or Rio Tinto started funding nationwide infrastructure.

 

[RiskyChris]

Population density of the US: 32,2/km².
Population density of Finland: 15,9/km².

There's 5 million people in Finland compared to over 300 here. I don't know what the logistics of that means, but I really think that's worth considering.

 

[Dead Man]

Great initiative. Go the Fins!

In any case, it really does point to not so much the issue with government in Australia, but the ability to overhaul a vast network covering an incredibly wide yet low-density population. The ability to recoup installation costs and infrastructure maintenance versus providing equitable services to regional Australia is the big issue.

Yeah, you would have trouble making it a universal right in Australia, but if we just said it was for everyone within a reasonable radius from any urban centre over a certain size, I think it should be possible to improve most Australians access without crippling the economy. I think all internet needs to be overhauled here though!

 

[Tieno]

There's 5 million people in Finland compared to over 300 here. I don't know what the logistics of that means, but I really think that's worth considering.

It's not like the US has more resources....

 

[Dead Man]

There's 5 million people in Finland compared to over 300 here. I don't know what the logistics of that means, but I really think that's worth considering.

So really, the US should benefit more from economies of scale, is that what you are saying?

 

[Bento]

There's 5 million people in Finland compared to over 300 here. I don't know what the logistics of that means, but I really think that's worth considering.

But you're the richest country in the world by far : S
Maybe now is not the time for something like this for the US though with the hugh deficit you've gathered but it's pretty weird that there never was a big infrastructure expansion in America during the Clinton years or other more stable times in the past.