Should internet service be provided by the government for free?

I think that this would be a nice thing and governments may do this in time as it's pretty obvious that the use of the Internet is becoming vital. I heard on the news though that Gordon Brown, our British prime minister, he's going to make sure that families on very low income have access to the Internet! That's quite interesting and a wonderful gesture on his part. I know that I could not live without the Internet as I do so many different things online now and have come to rely on this wonderful thing. Andrew

I do not believe in the idea that "everyone should" be able to do whatever. I don't believe that everyone should be able to have a $267K dollar Bentley automobile, and not just the rich. No... the people who earn enough money, to should be able to afford those luxuries. And I also don't buy the concept that these luxuries are things we can't live without. For nearly an entire year, I did not have internet access because I didn't have a computer. Someone broke into my home, and stole my computer. And I didn't have the money to replace it. Guess what... life went on! I got up in the morning, went to work, earned a pay check, and lived my life. I did not 'have to have it'. It wasn't the end of the world. So the question then becomes: Is it right to take money from people who have rightfully earned it, to give to others for the sake of internet service? I say no. If someone were to mug you on the streets of the city, and steal out of your wallet a few hundred bucks, would you be pissed? I wager so. If he said "well I'm stealing it to provide free internet service for poor people", I'm sure you'd be ecstatic and offer a few dollars he missed in the other pocket as well... right? Would it be better if he convinced a police officer to take your money and give it to poor people for internet? What if he elected someone in the local election, to do that? What if he formed a special interest group, and lobbied thousand to federal congress people? Would that make it better? I see no difference. Both are taking money out of my pocket for reasons I don't believe in. And finally, given how great a job government has done in all other areas in which it has taken charge (banking, automotive, health care, home mortages), which of those is reason to you to have faith in government controlling anything, let alone internet? Just a month ago, there was a thread by some guy in India which had free gov-internet service, and he was talking about problems we'd never put up with here in the US. Shortages, waiting 3 months to get connected, waiting a month for repairs, getting the run around from government operated tech support. Can you imagine signing up for internet and waiting 3 months for it? Can you imagine having a problem, and waiting a month for them to send out a repair guy? I waited three days, and they apologized heavily over that.

Although you might think it is necessary, and you would certainly be uncomfortable without it for a while.....it is possible to live without the internet. I don't consider the internet something people need to survive. It is a luxury item like cell phones and ipods. Why should the taxpayers have to provide internet service for everyone? If you want luxury items you should have to work and earn the money to pay for them. Do I want the government to be in control of whether or not I have internet service? Hell no.

No, I wouldn't accept any free internet if it came from the government. Odds are there's going to be some catches, such as regulations, restrictions, if it's given by the government, they'll control or regulate what you see, type or do. Based on the road our US government's taking, there's a big chance that their internet service might become that of Great Britain, Australia, Iran, China and other ban-happy and/or iron-handed governments; they'll censor or block certain websites they don't want you to know. Government- or State-sponsored internet service? No. I'll take my chances with my regular internet service or free Wi-Fi hotspots.

No. It's not the government's responsibility. They would screw it up like they do with everything else.

Looking the current performance of government i mean facilities provided by them and their conditions i don't thing its gonna be ever useful and quality of internet will also degrade if its made completely free it will be filled by all spams and jargon by people cause it comes completely free. I think government should provide better connects for affordable amount of price.

You do know where governments GET the money for all that lovely free Stuff ? That's right,the Taxes We as taxpayers give to them..so the free stuff's not really free,unless Youre unemployed or on benefits.

There is no such thing as "free" anything from the government. NOTHING comes from the government with out a price....usualy in the form of taxes (that someone ELSE is paying) or worse...our liberties. What do you supose would happen to the free flow of unfiltered, uncensored information if the government go it's hooks in to it? Seriously dude, think about it. I want the governemnt guard my borders, catch bad guys (preferably with out treating everyone like a potential bad guy), provide an environment in which business can flourish on it's own, fix my roads, deliver my mail and stay the fark out of my life...thats all I want from the government and I don't mind PAYING for that stuff.

the government has already controled the internet though we have to pay the bills ourselves. now in China, many foreign websites are not allowed to visit, like youtube, twitter or facebook. i can't even visit my friend's cooking blog, just because he's an American and his blog is in America. i don't know what the hell is in the mind of the government. they want the internet of China to be the largest LAN in the world? coz it's a LAN, i don't think we should pay for it, at least not pay so much money every year. though the service is expensive, the network speed isn't fast.

The government has their hands full with trying to keep the country stable. They can barely take care of themselves and there are a lot more important things that are needed for basic survival. The internet may have to take a bit of a back seat. While the internet is resourceful and helps many people on a daily basis. There are those that don't have it, nor would having it help them out. So the government would be wasting resources it doesn't have for nothing. Things like health care are more important because that is something that is crecual to daily survival.

No way we should add any more responsiblities to the government! They can't even take care of the switch to digital TV or healthcare for that matter. I would rather them fix the problems they have already before taking on another job. I like the free part though but not the government run. Sounds like everyone else is against this as well....sorry.

Oh my God NOOOOO!! Id hate to have to call some "silly servant" because I cant access my internet and be put on hold for hours. Im also happy with my IP company and I have very HIGH speed....and of course its not free. As for Governments having access to whats going on, well I sure hope I wont be bursting any bubbles, but they do, right now, check everything thats happening on the net. We had a show on tv a few months ago and there are some trigger-keywords used that lets them have access to EVERYTHING. So if I write the word TERRORISTS, they're probably reading what Im writing as Im writing it. I hate the idea of government having access to MY internet or whatever I do on here, not that Im doing anything illegal, but Im a true believer of freedom and I do cherish my freedom with passion. The Governments control too much as it is right now.

yaa i fully agree with you mrdprince.. the government should make the internet service free to a certain limit and after that limit they should charge us.. this would be a great idea for economy's structure..

yes,I agree.internet is a basic service,even we call it an essence.Free is the best way we can accept .

The less the government knows my business the happier I am. No way would I want them to know what I do on here and I'm a good girl.... I can just imagine the fun they would have with some of my friends who have no issue telling the world how they feel about the president and his cronies. Horrible idea....

Well i see it the same way i see government health care..........if the government is running it its going to be messed up, poorly ran, limit our freedom, and undependable. I would hate to see the government take over internet. I much rather pay the price and have at least as good of service as i have now.