posted by
Woods
on Wednesday July 09 2014, @07:21PM
from the do-not-call-the-internet-if-your-videos-stop-playing dept.
from the do-not-call-the-internet-if-your-videos-stop-playing dept.
Mark Zuckerberg sees the Internet as a vital service that should be made available to everyone across the world-a service that can be as vital as, say, the ability to call for emergency help on a telephone. In an editorial published Monday in The Wall Street Journal, the Facebook chief outlined his vision for a future of universal Internet access, and the steps he sees to get there. Currently only one-third of the world is connected, he said, with the rest lacking access due to issues like high costs or a lack of infrastructure.
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Basic Internet Should Be as Universal as Emergency Services
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(Score: 5, Insightful) by hubie on Wednesday July 09 2014, @07:37PM
Since we're talking about big-picture visions and ideals, does his vision include some sort of basic privacy stipulations or "do not track me" type of provisions?
(Score: 5, Insightful) by maxwell demon on Thursday July 10 2014, @06:04AM
I'm sure he thinks some data should be private, to be shared only with facebook and its paying customers.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by mendax on Wednesday July 09 2014, @07:37PM
Finally Mark Zuckerberg utters something intelligent about the Internet. However, what he wants is a pipe dream politically, at least in the U.S. While universal wired phone service is available because those who live in cities subsidize those who live in rural areas, this is done only because of the political will which existed decades ago. That will is now long gone. It'll take a minor revolution to change that.
It's really quite a simple choice: Life, Death, or Los Angeles.
(Score: 5, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 09 2014, @08:02PM
a pipe dream politically, at least in the U.S
Wilson, N.C. had gov't-provided fast internet years ago.
Chattanooga's public power utility runs their fast internet service.
With the amount of city-owned dark fiber beneath San Francisco, there's no logical reason everyone there doesn't have affordable fast internet.
Essential services like this are exactly the sort of instances where SOCIALISM is a model that works well.
...and Finland declared affordable 1Mb Internet access a basic human right back in 2010.
France and Spain have done it since then.
-- gewg_
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 09 2014, @08:09PM
That would raise the standard of living for everyone.
But, This is America were society teaches us to succeed by hoarding as much money as possible.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 09 2014, @10:45PM
> Chattanooga says you're ill-informed
As someone who explicitly bought a house in Chatt just because of the (semi-)municipal gigabit fibre I can see you missed the point. He wasn't saying it is technically or economically infeasible, he said it is politically infeasible. And he's right. Chatt got lucky -- they were able to get the ball far enough along before the entrenched interests were able to organize enough to kill it. Since then, they did kill it for most of the rest of the state. [fiercetelecom.com]
(Score: 5, Insightful) by zafiro17 on Wednesday July 09 2014, @08:04PM
Clever, but ultimately self-serving. Facebook has basically reached everyone it's going to reach. Anyone not aware of or on Facebook has either chosen not to be (he can't do much about that) or doesn't have decent access to Internet.
Don't kid yourself that he's thinking "good of humanity" here: I'm not sure Zuck has a humanitarian bone in his greedy, self-serving body. Rather, by making it into a human rights issue, he's attempting to try to get the public to rally around a cause that would cause governments to act - probably by financing or subsidizing new kilometers of cable or telecommunications infrastructure, or financing development projects in poor/underdeveloped countries so that the poor folks in the Central African Republic can finally realize their dream of using the Internet (at which point they become, probably, Facebook customers too).
This isn't altruism. This is a cheap attempt to pass the buck.
You know what else should be a human right? The right to drink as many cans of Zwoopie-Ale per day as they want. And the fact that I own a monopoly on the production and distribution rights to Zwoopie Ale has nothing to do with it. That's right kids - call your congressmen and parliamentary reps and make sure they know your rights are being violated and you'll democratically vote their asses out of office unless your right to Zwoopie Ale is immediately satisfied!
Zuck remains a douchebag - I'm convinced.
Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis - Jack Handey
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 09 2014, @08:57PM
Amen to that!
(Score: 3) by kaszz on Wednesday July 09 2014, @10:23PM
Just Mr Smith needs more humans batteries to power the empire. Suckerberg needs more (l)users to drive more advertising.
If internet is to be for everybody. Will it have access to other stuff than Facebook? And there's consequences of hordes of less than intelligent people connecting. Guess why spam works.. And some forums are filled with people that don't bother to learn.
(Score: 3, Funny) by bugamn on Thursday July 10 2014, @12:37AM
I'm quite certain that Zuckerber has a humanitarian bone, as long as humanitarian's meaning is similar to vegetarian's.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by cafebabe on Thursday July 10 2014, @01:10AM
Car analogy: Car manufacturer wants more roads.
1702845791×2
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 10 2014, @09:07AM
His motive isn't important; its a worthy cause that people should rally behind. He's not the only scumbag that would benefit from it, but if we refused to do things simply because they benefited scumbags, we'd never do anything.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday July 09 2014, @09:06PM
Haven't we had the minor revolution already?
Everyone went wireless. And any GSM phone can call 911, even without a contract [andreas.com]. Many woman's shelters take donations of cell phones with no sim or a dead sim, and give them to abuse victims. The smaller the better, because some of these women have to hide the phone.
For less than a house phone, you can get a cheap call+text prepaid phone plans.
Now I doubt Zuck really thinks we need the internet to call 911, he's not that dumb.
I suggest he's more likely feathering his own nest and not the least bit concerned for end users, and would like somebody, probably government, to step in and provide universal free access so that he can make more money mining the lives of even more ignorant people.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 09 2014, @10:51PM
> Haven't we had the minor revolution already?
Reading comprehension fail.
Zuckerberg is not saying that everyone needs to have universal emergency services.
He's saying that "Basic Internet Should Be as Universal as Emergency Services."
It's right there in the title of TFS.
(Score: 4, Funny) by maxwell demon on Thursday July 10 2014, @06:07AM
So what you are saying is that the internet is a series of pipe dreams?
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 1) by doublerot13 on Wednesday July 09 2014, @07:54PM
We already have cell data access nearly everywhere there are people. It probably wouldn't set your hair on fire, but if the carriers could be coaxed, by a still theoretical regulatory body, to provide a minimum standard of service, this universal access could happen via simple tethering.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday July 09 2014, @09:16PM
Wait, now you not only want the carriers to provide service under some government order, but you want a tetherable phone and some kind of computer to tether it to?
Woduldn't it be simpler just to give them low end 3g tablets?
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Sir Garlon on Wednesday July 09 2014, @08:07PM
The Internet is cool, but I am not sure its economic impact would be as great in countries whose infrastructure is far inferior to that of the G20 [wikipedia.org]. Roads, power plants, flood control, public health, etc. are all important and I'd like to suggest they are also prerequisites for the kind of explosive economic growth he is extolling.
[Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by richtopia on Wednesday July 09 2014, @10:10PM
I'm a believer that internet is the first infrastructure that should be brought in. You don't need to be playing starcraft on it, but access to Wikipedia and similar helps innovation. Locations lacking the services you listed probably shouldn't hold their breaths for the government to bring services, but a mobile mast allowing cell access to the internet helps develop a market economy and distribute information, such as better methods for dealing with the lack of infrastructure (or developing distributed infrastructure, debateably more maintainable particularly when government involvement is not reliable).
Studies on mobile networks in developing countries show significant changes from the improved communication and access to information.
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Wednesday July 09 2014, @10:25PM
What significant changes has been observed?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 09 2014, @10:58PM
The share of brown people purchasing porn has gone up.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 09 2014, @11:01PM
> I am not sure its economic impact would be as great in countries whose infrastructure is far inferior to that of the G20.
In terms of absolute dollars no, but in terms of relative improvement, probably MORE than in a G20 country. The reason is that the internet reduces the need to use much of that other infrastructure. For example, a farmer can find out the local prices in 10 different nearby towns and then choose which one to haul his crops to instead of having to travel on crappy roads to each one in person. Communication does not solve every problem but it mitigates a lot of problems.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by rts008 on Thursday July 10 2014, @12:08AM
In the very short term, you may be correct.
However, I think longer terms will prove you wrong.
The most powerful tool invented by mankind is the pairing of information with communication. Underestimate it, and you will be outmanuevered and left gasping in the dust.
The internet falls into that tool category, IIRC.
(Score: 2) by ticho on Wednesday July 09 2014, @08:51PM
Damn first-worlders with their screwed up priorities. Fix the more important issues around the world, like hunger and poverty first, only _then_ do this.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by kaszz on Wednesday July 09 2014, @10:29PM
There's a reason why it so. Information may actually be a cheap and fast way to get other priorities a start.
(Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Thursday July 10 2014, @06:12AM
You don't think that the availability of internet could help figting poverty? You know, some jobs you can do over the internet, and as long as you've got a reasonable connection and a reasonable education, it doesn't matter whether you are in New York or somewhere in the African jungle. And a reasonable education is another thing which could be greatly helped by the availability of the internet, through access to teaching materials.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 2) by ticho on Thursday July 10 2014, @06:38AM
Education and telecommuting jobs can only happen after basic needs are fulfilled, I think. At least education on level required by such job.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 10 2014, @09:16AM
Hunger and poverty are more political problems than anything. By giving the people a way to communicate en masse, they can collaborate to, for example, get rid of that asshole warlord/dictator who keeps taking most of their food and international aid for himself. It would also allow them a way to educate themselves on how to grow or forage for safe food, set up solar stills, and all kinds of other things.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by umafuckitt on Wednesday July 09 2014, @09:04PM
I reckon those two thirds of the population lacking internet are probably also lacking emergency services as we know them. I really don't think emergency services are that universal. Heck, clean water and adequate food supplies aren't yet universal.
(Score: 2) by redneckmother on Wednesday July 09 2014, @09:17PM
Well, I'm in the boonies in the USA. I can't get a land line telephone, there's no cell signal, and if I could get either one of those, emergency services would still be at least forty minutes away.
PS- HughesNot sucks - killer latencies, unreasonable prices, draconian data caps.
PPS - We don't use 911, we use Smith & Wesson.
Mas cerveza por favor.
(Score: 2) by Pslytely Psycho on Thursday July 10 2014, @05:03AM
" We don't use 911, we use Smith & Wesson."
Must make a hell of a defibrillator....
Being serious though, I recall reading that about 70% of 911 calls are medical in nature. And rural areas are always under served for EMS.
I love the country, but with my spouses health problems I would not feel comfortable living that far from services. After 34 years, I've grown rather fond of having her around.
My compromise is living on the very edge of the local service area. Still quite rural, just not fully out of the city EMS service area.
BTW, in order for HughesNet to suck, it would have to improve at least fivefold.
Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by ankh on Wednesday July 09 2014, @09:17PM
Plain Old Telecommunication Service
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 09 2014, @09:18PM
Really? Are you sure about that? Let's say you've fallen in your home and injured yourself. You can't stand up. You can't walk. Any attempt to stand up will cause you debilitating pain. Slowly and painfully you crawl to your phone to call for an ambulance. You explain to the dispatcher that you've fallen and you can't stand up without horrible pain. The dispatcher sends the police to arrest the offender who injured you. You explain that you need an ambulance, the dispatcher sends the police. The police arrive and ask (1) why can't you stand up? (2) why can't you walk out of here? (3) who did this to you? You explain that no one did anything to you, it was a simple accident. The police reluctantly call for an ambulance. When the paramedics arrive they ask (1) why can't you stand up? (2) why can't you walk out of here? (3) won't you please cooperate by getting onto our wheely thing? You explain that you can't move and have to plead with the paramedics to carry you to the ambulance. The paramedics reluctantly carry you to the ambulance and drive you to a hospital. You finally reach the hospital and finally see a doctor who believes you when you say you're in horrible pain. The doctor orders Xrays and pain medication immediately. You regain limited motion and return home the same day with a prescription for painkillers, but you don't walk normally again for weeks. What did you learn from your experience?
Emergency services means "send the police! no matter what happened!"
Police are useless and only care about arresting criminals.
Paramedics are useless and far too lazy to do their jobs.
Before you bother providing the Internet as a vital service, provide some emergency services first, OK?
(Score: 2) by khallow on Wednesday July 09 2014, @10:28PM
The police need to be there just so the paramedics can get into the house.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 09 2014, @11:02PM
Obviously, otherwise the guy who can't even fucking stand up would assault them...
(Score: 1) by darkfeline on Wednesday July 09 2014, @11:30PM
Are you speaking from personal experience? Care to provide a bit more detail (like city or state)?
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 10 2014, @02:28AM
I'm sure there are plenty of anecdotes about E911 services screwing up. But that doesn't mean anything unto itself. If the experience the AC has described is true it certainly isn't the common case else similar stories would be on the local news every night.
(Score: 3, Informative) by frojack on Thursday July 10 2014, @03:57AM
In LA, there are certain neighborhoods where paramedics aren't sent without police presence for fear of being robbed of drugs. When this became public knowledge, there was such a hew and cry of racism that the policy was changed to send copy to all 911 calls out of political correctness. Don't know if this persists to this day or not.
This doesn't happen everywhere, but I bet it happens in some sections of most big cities with gang activity.
Most places tend to keep it kind of low key, but its more common than you think.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 09 2014, @09:29PM
This is not the philanthropic, humanitarian agenda that Zuckerberg would like the media to think. For every person that gets connected, that's one more potential facebook user for Zuck to make money off of. It may well be that he believes in this cause, but don't think he won't get any benefit out of it.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday July 09 2014, @09:54PM
Some low level transport only services, so basic you'd need to run your own servers to have a meaningful interaction with the net?
My hunch: wouldn't it be wonderful if basic access to the internet is defined like: "Always on mobile device connected to the single service one ever needs: Facebook?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Wednesday July 09 2014, @10:32PM
"You have tried to reach a destination outside of the Facebook hegemony - your computer will be updated with new firmware to prevent such thought crime" ;-)