Why does the government want us all to have Broadband?
Discussion
I think the "backbone" of data supply needs to have some control by the gov. In the same way Water and Elec do. Because at some point all TV/Radio/Web etc is going to merge into one device connected to a data link. And a lot of services (banking / news / voting
etc)will only be widely available online.
So the Gov should be planning to make sure everybody can be connected and supported. I'm not sure the Gov should pay. But I'm up for a bit of regulation and "control" of the companies providing the service.
etc)will only be widely available online.So the Gov should be planning to make sure everybody can be connected and supported. I'm not sure the Gov should pay. But I'm up for a bit of regulation and "control" of the companies providing the service.
Munter said:
I think the "backbone" of data supply needs to have some control by the gov. In the same way Water and Elec do. Because at some point all TV/Radio/Web etc is going to merge into one device connected to a data link. And a lot of services (banking / news / voting
etc)will only be widely available online.
So the Gov should be planning to make sure everybody can be connected and supported. I'm not sure the Gov should pay. But I'm up for a bit of regulation and "control" of the companies providing the service.
etc)will only be widely available online.So the Gov should be planning to make sure everybody can be connected and supported. I'm not sure the Gov should pay. But I'm up for a bit of regulation and "control" of the companies providing the service.

I think we are just at the beginning of the information age. With the way that technology is advancing who knows what the future holds.
Whether or not the government can actually sort it out and not royally balls it up like everything else they touch is another matter.
Hedders said:
Anyone?
Why is it in their interests, what have they got planned? Why am i so bloody suspicious of EVRYTHING they do?
Fair to be paranoid, since they have single handed managed to screw up pretty much everything.Why is it in their interests, what have they got planned? Why am i so bloody suspicious of EVRYTHING they do?
That said though, it is a good idea (and the current show of urine DIDNT think it up by the way!). By putting technology at EVERYONE'S fingertips, we can all get accesses to the products, services and information we need. No part of society should be left out and it does open real options for pushing society and our country forward.
Imagine the options for working from home? How about delivery of government services? What about TV and media online and in HD? What about having all of this in a cost effective package which leads the world? Its an enticing thought and one that can have an impact. Get it right and we could be world leaders. Screw it up and its back to queuing up at the local post office....
Scandinavia has shown the way forward with this type of thing, especially with mobile services. Although its technology, it has a huge potential for saving money but increasing service levels. As you can see I am real fan, but like I said - this is NOT the governments new plan for the future and they didn't invent it...
Here's the thing
99% of homes can get broadband of some description via the BT network - 40% elect not to.
The speed issue is down to BT, and their complete screw-up called 21CN. The regulated supply of BT broadband to other suppliers (such as Sky, Carphone Warehouse, etc) is governed by Ofcom.
The only other company with any infrastructure of any note is Virgin Media - the VM network delivers speeds well in excess of 2mb and isn't subject to the level of regulation that BTs is.
It hits something like 75% of British homes - 55% elect not to take Broadband.
The problem isn't so much infrastructure - it's take-up.
99% of homes can get broadband of some description via the BT network - 40% elect not to.
The speed issue is down to BT, and their complete screw-up called 21CN. The regulated supply of BT broadband to other suppliers (such as Sky, Carphone Warehouse, etc) is governed by Ofcom.
The only other company with any infrastructure of any note is Virgin Media - the VM network delivers speeds well in excess of 2mb and isn't subject to the level of regulation that BTs is.
It hits something like 75% of British homes - 55% elect not to take Broadband.
The problem isn't so much infrastructure - it's take-up.
Hedders said:
Anyone?
Why is it in their interests, what have they got planned? Why am i so bloody suspicious of EVRYTHING they do?
I find it bloody terrifying and yes I'm paranoid.Why is it in their interests, what have they got planned? Why am i so bloody suspicious of EVRYTHING they do?
Soon there will be no personal privacy either at home or in public.
No government in history has had the ability to monitor us in this way and they're doing their damndest to have every conceivable bit of information about us at their fingertips.
"Enemy of the State" is but a few short steps away, and by the time we've realised it it'll be too late to stop it.
IRT OFF again:
I can see those benefits, but anyone that wants to use the internet already can.
Mine is free, and will run on a £50 laptop..If i can't afford to set that up then i have more problems than not having internet access!
Maybe they want to intend on installing a country wide WIFI that they can move us all on too to keep us under the thumb.
I can see those benefits, but anyone that wants to use the internet already can.
Mine is free, and will run on a £50 laptop..If i can't afford to set that up then i have more problems than not having internet access!
Maybe they want to intend on installing a country wide WIFI that they can move us all on too to keep us under the thumb.
Edited by Hedders on Thursday 29th January 15:38
can see lots of things already becoming internet only (online tax returns, applications for things you used to get ftom the post office etc.), have to be seen to be allowing the poorer people in society access to the cheaper flights, train fares etc. which you need to have booked in advance and are mostly internet only. Longer term there's all the big brother things like filling out the application to visit the US online days in advance before they will let you in at border control.
Hedders said:
I can see those benefits, but anyone that wants to use the internet already can.
Mine is free, and will run on a £50 laptop..If i can't afford to set that up then i have more problems than not having internet access!
Maybe they want to intend on installing a country wide WIFI that they can move us all on too to keep us under the thumb.
You think this is the internet? The current internet is not fast enough. Even the fast cable stuff isn't fast enough. I dont think we know what will be fast enough. But certainly everything we want to do takes a lot of bandwidth.Mine is free, and will run on a £50 laptop..If i can't afford to set that up then i have more problems than not having internet access!
Maybe they want to intend on installing a country wide WIFI that they can move us all on too to keep us under the thumb.
At the moment anybody without cable cannot really get full size and quality streaming movies unless they are really lucky.
Because they don't want poor people (remember them?) to be disadvantaged because they can't use the Internet to buy s
t they don't need at the same bargain prices as the rich b
ds who can afford a computer, a phone line, and to rent an ADSL link.
That and e-government. It will be loads cheaper if you can just sign-on for your benefits from home and never need to actually visit the dole office.
etc.
t they don't need at the same bargain prices as the rich b
ds who can afford a computer, a phone line, and to rent an ADSL link.That and e-government. It will be loads cheaper if you can just sign-on for your benefits from home and never need to actually visit the dole office.
etc.
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