vpoko
Premium
join:2003-07-03
Jamaica Plain, MA
 ·Comcast
| I think the dictionary can help us with this
A "right" is something that human beings are entitled to, rights cannot be taken away except in cases where society finds the individual has violated the social contract (or 'violated the law' for conservatives who hate the concept of a social contract). Current utilities aren't considered rights (see what happens if you don't pay your electric bill) and so I don't see how broadband would be different.
As for the "utility", a commodity is only a utility if provided by a public entity. So in the case of public WiFi, I guess that's a utility.
That leaves "luxury", which implies that it's somehow unimportant. I think most of us who use the internet as a very integral part of our lives would disagree.
I guess it's not an either/or/or proposition. |
J D McDorce
Premium
join:2001-12-29
Westland, MI
| said by vpoko  :As for the "utility", a commodity is only a utility if provided by a public entity. So in the case of public WiFi, I guess that's a utility. Merriam-Webster Online defines utility as a service (as light, power, or water) provided by a public utility and a public utility as a business organization (as an electric company) performing a public service and subject to special governmental regulation.
Where things get FUBAR is that both my telco and cableco, an individual entities, meet the definition of a public utility, since they both provide a public service and are subject to special governmental regulation (for POTS and basic CATV, respectively). Broadband is a service and, in each case, is provided by a public utility, which would tend to meet Webster's definition of a utility. However, cable internet is not subject to special governmental regulation - does that mean that it is not a utility? Since my monthly bill for DSL includes a line item for USF fee, does that mean that it is subject to special governmental regulation, therefore is a utility?
I don't think that the dictionary helps with this one...  |
