17 Dec
2003
17 Dec
'03
11:17 p.m.
- a general move away from "commons"-oriented systems, which breed the notions of "fair access" and such. If the "problem" is that poor people cannot--it is alleged--afford a $17 a month Net connection (what Netcom charges, in about 25 cities and growing), then my solution would be to simply _subsidize_ their bill. (I'm not advocating this, nor do I think it wise to subsidize anyone's phone, Net, or dinner bills, but better this than "nationalizing" networks and thus creating more confusion and less efficiency for all.)
We don't need subsidized bills for cheaper access. Just cheaper access. It'll happen. Market pressure + all that.