On Wed, 9 Nov 2005, Charles Wu wrote: ><snip> >For example, electricity, gas and water are items that are needed for basic >survival in the city. Granted, these services have not always been >available, but it is expected by all Americans that if they move somewhere, >they can get those services. Most people would not survive without these >services. Tell me how internet access fits that description. ></snip> > >Is it not generally expected that Internet access be available in a >similar manner? If not today, what about 5-10 years from now
Good try, but not the same thing. High speed internet access IS available (very nearly 100% if you count satellite). I guess the difference is the "tone" I read in your post (which MAY not have even been there) that implied you believe that (like the utilities above) internet access is a basic item that should be available to everyone. Let me offer some other examples: I live in Malden, MO. This is a town of about 5000. We have a health clinic that closes at 6pm M-F and is not open on weekends. If I need medical attention other than those hours, I have to drive 45 minutes to get to an emergency room. Granted, there is an ambulance in town, but that is not the same as a hopital. When I moved to Malden, I KNEW that there was no 24 hour medical facility here. I moved here anyway. Here is one that is a little less "important", but still of some import (at least to me). There is NO store closer than 35 minutes that is open after 11pm. I am a night owl, so what happens if I want a soda at midnight? Hmmm. (brb... :-). The point here is that I KNEW, before I moved here, that these things were true. I moved here anyway. If they bother me so much that I can't live without these SERVICES (<-- important word there), then it is up to ME to move or deal with the reality. If I had a business that required me to be on the internet, I would not move that business to a location where internet access is not availble. AND, if my business was suddenly in need of internet access and none was available, then I would do what is necessary to obtain it. The fact is, it may cost me more money to do it. Even today, I would bet that you can buy T1 service for HALF what I have to pay here. These things are just a fact of life. -- Butch Evans BPS Networks http://www.bpsnetworks.com/ Bernie, MO Mikrotik Certified Consultant (http://www.mikrotik.com/consultants.html) -- WISPA Wireless List: [email protected] Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
