According to former Federal Communications Commission commissioner Michael Copps, American’s civil rights should be expanded to include broadband access. Mr. Copps stated at a July 21, 2008 speech at Carnegie Mellon University, “No matter who you are, or where you live, or how much money you make … you will need, and you are entitled to have these tools (broadband Internet) available to you, I think, as a civil right.”(download from http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-283886A1.pdf).
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Ubiquitous broadband is a good thing, perhaps even a lofty political goal and an economic driver. However, I have a hard time figuring out where to place freedom to surf. I wonder where Mr. Copps will place this new civil right, maybe it will be life, liberty, and the pursuit of broadband access (sorry Mr. Jefferson your ideas are just so 18th century).
Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.