From the District of Columbia comes yet another idea of how we can expand the welfare state to heretofore unforeseen heights.
The D.C. government is preparing to ask companies to bid on building a wireless Internet system through much of the city, including free service for low-income residents.
But unlike other municipalities such as Philadelphia and San Francisco that have commissioned such networks city-wide, the District plans to give its contract to the company that goes furthest in serving low-income residents with free Web access and even free computers and training.
The District’s unusual approach means the network might not cover the entire city, leaving some areas unable to get the wireless service, which is expected to carry a monthly fee in higher-income zones.
In other words, its time for government-subsidized, preferential access to the internet. And the justification for this program ?
“Access to technology is like access to books: it’s an important medium of communication and learning and opportunity,” Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) said yesterday in an interview. “Other cities are doing it and I want our city doing it too.”
Yes, and you can buy books at Amazon.com and Internet access from Comcast, et al. And, yes, local goverments do provide free access to books and other forms of information via libraries, but the difference is that the plan being proposed by the D.C. government would restrict free internet access to only certain areas of the city.
The District plans to give the winning company an exclusive, eight-year franchise to attach wireless devices to city-owned street lights and buildings. It will also give the winner some access to the city’s private fiber-optic network free of charge to carry wireless traffic on toward the Internet. No tax dollars are to be involved, city officials said.
Bidding companies may submit plans for where they would build the network, how they may charge paying customers and what speeds they will offer them. Depending on how companies respond, their paying customers could, in effect, subsidize free access for the poor.
And, yes, while tax dollars may not be directly involved, we are still talking about the free use of public resources along with a mandate that free service be provided to “low income” customers. Characterize it however you wish, its still government intervention in the market.
I’m all in favor of the widespread development of Wi-Fi networks, but they should be allowed to develop on their own without government intevention and without the state designating preferred customers entitled to free or discounted access.
