Free Broadband Internet
Here is some very interesting news about an upcoming vote in the FCC to provide free broadband Internet across USA.
If the plan is approved at the FCC’s Dec. 18 meeting, free broadband could become reality within a year.
A major concern was the availability of broadband for rural households. About 38 percent of rural households have broadband. In urban and suburban areas, the numbers are 57 percent and 60 percent, respectively. ”This initiative brings with it the promise of a free basic broadband service to hundreds of thousands of Americans who currently have limited or no access to the high-speed Internet,”- a statement prepared for USA TODAY.
Wow, think about the possibility for growth around the Internet Campus and ministry online, especially in rural areas. More rural households could more easily gather around broadband streaming services from the church and build community around it where they live. I believe this would be a huge opportunity for the church!
How do you think this could affect the church and online ministry?
Wow, the opportunities would only increase for ministry. I wonder if by making it "free" there would also be systems of control in place? Like who controls the pipeline of internet goodness when it is free?
I am with you, the "internet goodness" is something that is a huge question in my mind. Although isn't it always a possibility that that "goodness" can be stifled at any time even when we are paying?
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
This is awesome and an awesome opportunity for the Int. Campus. I appreciate what you guys are doing and love being apart of the adventure.
I hope the FCC passes this, especially as private internet providers look to put caps on how much bandwidth their customers can use. If the vast majority of users were forced to use a small amount of bandwidth, that would severely restrict people's ability to watch online streaming of video, downloading music/podcasts, etc. That's great for the greedy companies and bad for the rest of us, so anything that would circumvent that in my opinion is a welcome trend.
As far as the "who controls the pipeline of internet goodness," if the government wanted to it could do it NOW. I say thank the Lord for the tools He's provided us to spread the gospel, and ask Him to make them more readily and easily available (and affordable!), while being confident that if we were to lose access to the web, He would still enable us to minister to people and spread the gospel.
I heard that if they do this it may have to run on the same freq as all the current wireless channels used for mics and such–is this true? If so, what does that mean for all the places (including churches) using wireless technology?
OH MY WORD!!! South Africa is soooooo behind!!! lol!!!!
But I agree, the beauty behind this possibility is indescriable….
Good is good for something?? whaoaaaaaaaaaa
That was supposed to be "government." My fingers slipped
I actually saw Rick Warren put up a notice to the FCC about something to do with wireless frequencies being used that Churches use consistently. It is funny to think but churches are probably the highest users of some of that sort of audio equipment.
No worries Nick – you need to make an IntenseDebate account so we can see your face and connect to your other online sites!
This does open up some very interesting possibilities. I'll be interested to see what comes of this.
Thanks Tony. Our tech guy is looking at doing some more wireless things and he was telling about this wondering if he should hold off. If happens how far down road do you think before we'll see it happen–1, 2, 5 years?
This would be cool, and definitely increase possibilities.
This is an exciting development but I am extremely cautious. A former president once said; "The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help. – Ronald Reagan
The government never gives away anything without strings. Look very carefully at the "Fairness Doctrine". It has very little to do with fairness but more to do with giving the government control over what they believe is acceptable speech.
The Fairness Doctrine can very easily be use to control free and unbridled communication on the Internet should they be the guardians of this tool.
Check out http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/482170.aspx
Here is a post that says the two will be able to coexist. http://is.gd/a07W
Oh, I wouldn't hold off at all. Even in the case that this gets approved, it will take a few years before it is up and running like what we are talking about here.
I think it would be awesome if the FCC provided free internet service. I am a blogger and I'm in the habit of giving my blog address to people that I know, yet it is crazy how often I hear people tell me that they don't have regular access to the internet or even a computer. The internet has the capability of being an amazing tool for winning people to Christ and for discipling them but in order for this to happen the way God wants it to we have to make sure everyone has internet access, so I will be praying that this passes.