Free Broadband for everyone!

[ladymuck]

One step at a time ;-)

So we’re agreed that internet access these days is a necessity.

And perhaps we can agree that it it not a necessity for it to be provided free to every home.

But would it make the country a better place and provide more opportunities for some, if it was? Say for example, for every 1000 people that only waste it for surfing, there are 10 that use it to create a home business, or for remote working, or for the housebound to be able to converse with elderly relatives halfway across the country, wouldn’t this be worthwhile?

But that's not sufficient justification for the plans to nationalise Openreach and provide everyone with free broadband access.

[tomtomagain]

You’re confusing two different things - luxury vs necessity, and privilege vs right.

Internet access these days is a necessity. For many poorer people, the only way that they can access public services is by going to the local library and logging in there.

That's true to an extent. Internet access is very important for accessing a whole range of services from booking your child's parents evening, making school selections, applying for benefits, passports & licenses etc.

However ... it is still possible to do all these things without having free broadband at home.

If a person is too poor to afford the price of a broadband connection, they are probably too poor to afford the laptop/ipad/smartphone required to use it. Are we going to give "free" laptops to all?

Most people realise there's actually no such thing as "free" by the time they get to 15. Somebody always has to pay.

If ensuring everyone has access is important ( I believe it is ) then legislate to force the providers to provide 100% coverage and simply bump up universal credit by £30 a month ( and the tax-free allowance by £30 ) and then people can choose to buy it or not.

[Zigenare]

If ensuring everyone has access is important ( I believe it is ) then legislate to force the providers to provide 100% coverage and simply bump up universal credit by £30 a month ( and the tax-free allowance by £30 ) and then people can choose to buy it or not.

How is that going to appease the rabid foaming at the mouth socialists like DaveB albeit it's Champagne Socialism in his case.

[meridian]

But that's not sufficient justification for the plans to nationalise Openreach and provide everyone with free broadband access.

Isn’t it?

I haven’t seen any cost / benefit analysis, so perhaps you have more data that’s lead you to that conclusion.

[tomtomagain]

How is that going to appease the rabid foaming at the mouth socialists like DaveB albeit its Champagne Socialism in his case.

As you know, nothing will appease them. They will always believe that taking assets, wealth and opportunities from one group ( labelled "The Rich" ) and handing them over to another group ( labelled "The Poor" ) is the answer to everything ... even though the evidence from every society that has ever tried to do this has ended up in deep do-do.

Another dog-whistle policy from Labour. Almost as incoherent as their plan to take 10% of companies and hand them to "the workers"

[BR14]

But that's not sufficient justification for the plans to nationalise Openreach and provide everyone with free broadband access.

what 'plans'? you don't actually believe any of the pre-election krap our beloved politicians spout?

do you?

really?

[Zigenare]

As you know, nothing will appease them. They will always believe that taking assets, wealth and opportunities from one group ( labelled "The Rich" ) and handing them over to another group ( labelled "The Poor" ) is the answer to everything ... even though the evidence from every society that has ever tried to do this has ended up in deep do-do.

Another dog-whistle policy from Labour. Almost as incoherent as their plan to take 10% of companies and hand them to "the workers"

Anyone would think that Labour don't want to win the GE...

[meridian]

how many people are we actually talking about here with absolutely no access to the internet?

i'd guess worth case scenario a 200k ish

does that justify "free fibre broadband for everyone"?

You don’t have to guess, it’s freely available online (ironically). 7% of all U.K. households.

Internet access – households and individuals, Great Britain - Office for National Statistics

There are many arguments against providing free broadband, that wasn’t this argument. This argument was whether internet access was a luxury or not.

[Zigenare]

Corbynista's to create fibre borg!

Parts of BT to be renationalised, other telcos to be told "Conform or be assimilated"!

So, anyone else think it's a good idea to vote labour?

You don’t have to guess, it’s freely available online (ironically). 7% of all U.K. households.

Internet access – households and individuals, Great Britain - Office for National Statistics

There are many arguments against providing free broadband, that wasn’t this argument. This argument was whether internet access was a luxury or not.

No it wasn't! You start you're own bloody argument, this one's mine!

[meridian]

No it wasn't! You start you're own bloody argument, this one's mine!

Ah. Yes. Sorry!