Should the internet be free?

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With us being in the 2009, the internet is a major part of today's society. The internet is a major part of modern civilization. With that being said, no human part of a modern "civilization" should be deprived of internet access. How can we receive important news pertaining to our community. In America, newspapers are becoming obsolete. If there are no newspapers, how can someone keep up with current events. It's 2009 now. The internet should be provided for every American who can't afford internet access.

Newspapers aren't free but you can get free dial-up from some site.

Most public libraries provide free access to newspapers and to computers with internet access. If internet were to be provided free to everyone, who, exactly, would you suppose would be paying for it? Do you think free internet access for all is really more important than health care, education, supports for basic living needs (food, shelter) for those who can't afford it?

If it was free, wouldn't it have to be the government that was providing it? I really can't imagine that working out well.

A basic broadband connection for browsing etc. should be free, but they should still charge people for bandwidth/downloads (per GB maybe)

If I have to pay 30 bucks for unlimited access and not censored I would do that. I dont want comcast restricting how much bandwith I have.

I think at least dialup should be free...you've heard of NetZero, right? That Zero in the name used to mean $0. They had a big banner ad over your screen the whole time, but it was kind of nice to be able to just log on whenever I needed to check some quick stuff, instead of having to go into the other room to use the rig that was hooked up to the cable modem.

Am do not agree broadband should be free to homes because it is a luxury for most,but libraries already offer it for free,which those who do not have computers or internet at home can use.

I'm kind of unsure of the idea, to be honest. I haven't made up my mind on the matter yet.

The internet, as in this crazy universe of content, should be free in that anyone with the means to do so can connect without some sort of subscription fee. However, if the means to connect is being facilitated by the infrastructure laid out by a company like Comcast, then you should pay them for the use of their infrastructure. If in the future there is a way to connect entirely wireless, you'll have to pay whoever's running the satellites.

If it was free then the internet providers wouldn't make as much money. Yes, the internet is very important these days for a lot of people & that's why there is free or cheap access at libraries. I doubt that people will ever be able to get it free in their own homes, especially with the economy being the way it is now.

Very interesting, so why did you reply?

Don't sites get enough income from advertisements? I understand sites want you to subscribe for a dollar or two extra by the way. I'm just so stingy I will always look for a free alternative.

For me, I think everything should be free.

Subscription™, baby!

I am an Anarcho Communist, in my ideal world everything would be free as we would not have money. In fact in my ideal world we would have no internet, society would be so radically different that there would just be no need for it for either social, business or security purposes. The internet as it is is relativly affordable and I can take it or leave it. This computer i am on now was taken into custody by the police for six months and i could not access the internet for that period of time, my life was not really effected by not having the internet in the slightest. I don't get these people who can't live without out it and can't live without there mobiles phones and stuff.

The internet IS free. It's a huge network of computers. The only thing you are paying for is access to it. Nearly every website out there is making money. So, we pay money to connect to a network, yet have loads of adverts to contend with. I suppose it's like a TV where you get it free but have to pay the electricity bill