Free Net Access For All Could Soon Be RealityFCC Wants To Provide Free Internet For AllPOSTED: 3:40 pm EST December 2,
2008 PITTSBURGH -- Imagine free Internet access for everyone, no matter where they are. Wi-Fi connections make it possible to get a signal without plugging in, but in most places you have to pay.  Free Net Access For All Could Soon Be RealityTthat could change if the Federal Communications Commission has its way.If things go according to the FCC's plan, theoretically, wherever you bring your laptop, you'll be able to find a free Internet signal.According to the FCC, the mtoive behind the plan is to give people who live in rural areas or who are economically disadvantaged decent access to the Internet. But anyone would benefit, if the wireless Internet hookup works as planned.Right now people with a computer with wireless Internet capabilities can find free access in places like downtown Pittsburgh, coffee shops and on college campuses.But the FCC wants to make that kind of access available everywhere. The government is getting ready to auction off a bunch of airwaves. The company that wins the auction would have to use 25 percent of those airwaves to offer free wireless Internet.The FCC says that would cover 95 percent of the nation including urban, suburban and rural areas."In principle, it's a neat idea. In practice, it's going to be a nightmare," said former FCC chief technologist David Farber.Farber, who is now a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, worries there isn't enough space in those airwaves to handle all of the demand."It's not reliable spectrum. It's not going to be spectrum that you can count on it being there and not being jammed," Farber said.Beyond these potential problems, the free Wi-Fi service could be bad news for cable and telephone companies that sell broadband internet service for a monthly fee."If it isn't good, then I guess I'll stick with paying, but if it's really Wi-Fi and it's acceptable, then absolutely I'd take the free stuff," one university student told Channel 4 Action News.According to the FCC, the free Internet will not be as fast as the high-speed service offered by most companies, but it will be faster than both dial-up and satellite service.If all goes according to plan, the free service it could be available within two years.The FCC will vote on the measure Dec. 18. Even if it doesn't pass, Pittsburgh-area Rep. Mike Doyle has already introduced a bill that would force the FCC to provide the service anyway.Both Comcast and Verizon -- which stand to lose Internet customers -- said they're not commenting at this time. Related Links:
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