Should we oppose the Data Superhighway/NII?

[Timothy C. May]

John Blair (I think) writes:

> I'm not sure what you mean by "various groups," but I do think that a very
> basic net connection, with minimal services (access to government records,
> public domain postings, and similar information) should be provided either free
> or at a very minimal cost.  It is not difficult for me to envision a day when
> paper based sources of info (newspapers, magazines, etc.) may be impossible
> to recieve in paper format, and when participation in our political system
> will depend on having access just as much as it depends, for all practical
> purposes, on having a stable residence.  Groups which cannot afford net
> connection in the future may very likely become a politically excluded group.
> Its important that we set the precedent now that these basic services not be
> dependant on a certain minimum economic standing.  This is what I understand
> "fair access" to mean.

But how is this any different from providing subsidized or free
newspapers or news channels to the population?

How is a Net connection any more usable than a free CNN channel? Or
C-SPAN, which is in fact subsidized by the cable companies?

If we decide that the government needs a subsidized channel or network
to make avaiable its laws, its debate, its position, then we have just
created a publically-funded propaganda channel for them.

(Earlier, I took a position that making government docs available by
ftp, gopher, WWW, etc., would be a good thing. I still do, but I worry
that the channels would just be platforms for government bureaucrats
to pitch their policies and plans. I have no doubt that when the
commercial networks are reluctant to carry speeches and press
conferences by Clinton, that he'd really like to have subsidized
channels that _had_ to carry him. Of course, few would watch, but
that's another topic.)

So, if we need a National Information Infractructure, why not the same
thing for newspapers, television, radio, etc.? Why not guarantee
everyone a daily newspaper? After all, they need to be informed.

(I don't want to drift into sarcasm about this, as I think Mike Godwin
and others are making serious points. But bear in mind that the
purported needs for communicating with the public are often the
justification for "State Radio" and for the UNESCO-sponsored proposals
to restrict the "private press" in many countries. Put it this way, do
you really want President Robertson or President Perot to have his won
subsidized channels of communication? Perot can of course _buy_ a
couple of networks, but that's not the same as an official network.)

CNN, the Clinton News Network.

--Tim May

P.S. I cancelled my entire cable t.v. subscription several weeks back.
Too much shit, too little quality, too confusing a monthly bill. I
have a sneaking feeling we're going to have about 500 channels soon,
with a couple of hundred of them available cheaply enough. 


-- 
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