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Thursday, July 02, 2015

FCC Commissioner: Internet Access Is Not a ‘Basic Human Right’

(CNSNews) -- Federal Communications Commission (FCC) member Michael O'Rielly says it is "ludicrous to compare Internet access to a basic human right."

“Human rights are standards of behavior that are inherent in every human being,” O’Rielly said Thursday in a speech to the Internet Innovation Alliance, a coalition of business and non-profit organizations.

“They are the core principles underpinning human interaction in society. These include liberty, due process or justice, and freedom of religious beliefs.

“I find little sympathy with efforts to try to equate Internet access with these higher, fundamental concepts,” O'Rielly stated.

Internet access is not even a day-to-day necessity, the commissioner added.

“It is important to note that Internet access is not a necessity in the day-to-day lives of Americans and doesn’t even come close to the threshold to be considered a basic human right,” O’Rielly said.

“People do a disservice by overstating its relevancy or stature in people’s lives. People can and do live without Internet access, and many lead very successful lives,” he continued.

“Instead, the term ‘necessity’ should be reserved to those items that humans cannot live without, such as food, shelter, and water.”

More here

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wait, he's talking sense. Stone him!

Anonymous said...

Internet is not a necessity anymore than those cell phones that are given out to people free and I don't understand why I have to help pay for either one. I have to pay for my internet and seeing as how I get it from Comcast, it costs out the ying yang. I refused to carry a cell for years and now only carry a prepaid for emergencies such as car break downs. People act like they can't survive without either one. But when I did have a cell phone I was charged a surcharge to make up for people who can't afford a cell phone and one is provided for them. Same with the cable bill and the internet bill. I am a single "white" person with no kids, who has only been able to work part time for the past four years. Partly due to the economy and partly due to health reasons. Do you know how much help I receive on my little prepaid phone? On my internet bill? On my electric bill? Zero, zilch, nada, zip, and many more such "nothing" words. Anyway, my point being that not only does someone think it is a necessity but they also think that if you can't afford it and meet "certain requirements" they will make other people pay to give it to you.

Anonymous said...

How many people consider a mirror a necessity?