Spain Codifies the "Right To Broadband" 312
Reader adeelarshad82 writes to lets us know that Spain has now codified a "Right to Broadband," thus following the lead of Finland. Spain's industry minister announced that citizens will have a legal right from 2011 to be able to buy broadband Internet access of at least 1 Mb/sec at a regulated price wherever they live. The telecoms operator holding the so-called "universal service" contract would have to guarantee it could offer "reasonably" priced broadband throughout Spain.
Re:Not a "right"! (Score:3, Interesting)
No it's not a right. It's a guarantee. "If you pay this contractor, we guarantee this contractor will provide this minimal service."
If it were a right, then you would have a right to these people (the contractors) work, that's called slavery.
It's the same thing with this so-called right to healthcare here in the states. You might have a right not to be denied service because of your skin color or country of birth but you do not have a "right" to the efforts of other individuals.
Re:Legality (Score:2, Interesting)
The answer is Spanish Law will apply in Spain. But, if Spain fail to enact their own legislation to enforce EU regulation then the EU may take the Spanish Government to court (not Spanish citizens).
There are a number of such ongoing cases, including one against the UK government for failure to implement privacy laws (basically for failing to stop the use of Phorm by UK ISPs).
/facepalm (Score:1, Interesting)
Really? People see Broadband as a right? Really? It makes me wonder, why not make driving a car a right? That technology and privilege has been around for nearly a century. I'll tell you why, because it is only a privilege. Why should broadband become a right? What happens when Technology surpasses what it is today and it's no longer termed broadband, will they modify the law or create a new one? And isn't this just a law against companies?
Really? /sigh
Re:Not a "right"! (Score:2, Interesting)
Even if the taxes were raised to 100%? You're still not a slave? (Just something to think about.)
What about the concept of partial slavery? The typical American pays ~40% in total taxes. So in essence you're a slave the first ~40% of the year (upto May 10) and don't achieve total freedom from taxation until after.
Re:Not a "right"! (Score:3, Interesting)
This is an important illustration of the Rule: "Libertarians are the stupidest people on the planet."
They believe taxation is "stealing from your neighbors" but wet themselves if there are potholes in the road or their garbage isn't picked up. Best of all, their preferred medium for expressing their views is the Internet.
They also make those funny little faces that make them think they're looking all "John Galt" when they're really looking all "Pee Wee Herman". If you don't believe me, look at the contributors page of Reason Magazine.
Re:Availability matters (Score:3, Interesting)
In my part of rural Spain, the only phone connection is either a Telefonica supplied "wireless" phone, or a mobile. The only sources of internet are by using a 3G dongle (at extortionate rates - not that broadband in Spain is even close to a reasonable price). Some places have WiMax service - but the speed is low, the monthly cap is lower and frankly, the reliability sucks - and the price is high.
I would expect the implementation to be either one of these radio based technologies, which will provide the headline 1Mbps, but I'm not holding out any hope for a service that will allow me gigabytes per month of transfers.