Is internet access a right? I guess it depends on who you ask? Providers who have invested millions, perhaps billions, in hooking many of us up argue their investment assumed they could charge a fee for access. They have a valid point, but the reality is that this logic leaves many without. Clearly, some do not have the means to take advantage of internet resources and some end up being treated differently based on where they happen to live. History demonstrates we have encountered these issues before. Electricity and phone service are examples. A pure market approach ignores those who cannot be conveniently connected or expects some unfortunates to pay additional fees.
There is some hope this issue will be addressed by the new administration (after the economy is back on course I assume). The outgoing FCC chair made a pitch for universal access and the FCC promises to address this issue in the near future.
High speed Internet access could be argued to be an economic/educational necessity much in the way transportation (Interstate highways), power, electricity, and phone communication came to be regarded as necessary services.
