broadband a legal right / old news

[Sai Dheeraj]

Finland argues that net access
is a fundamental right
Finland has become the first
country in the world to make
broadband a legal right for
every citizen.
From 1 July every Finn will
have the right to access to a
1Mbps (megabit per second)
broadband connection.
Finland has vowed to connect
everyone to a 100Mbps
connection by 2015.
In the UK the government has
promised a minimum
connection of at least 2Mbps to
all homes by 2012 but has
stopped short of enshrining
this as a right in law.
The Finnish deal means that
from 1 July all
telecommunications companies
will be obliged to provide all
residents with broadband lines
that can run at a minimum
1Mbps speed.
Broadband commitment
Speaking to the BBC, Finland's
communication minister Suvi
Linden explained the thinking
behind the legislation: "We
considered the role of the
internet in Finns everyday life.
Internet services are no longer
just for entertainment.
"Finland has worked hard to
develop an information society
and a couple of years ago we
realised not everyone had
access," she said.
It is believed up to 96% of the
population are already online
and that only about 4,000
homes still need connecting to
comply with the law.
In the UK internet penetration
stands at 73%.
The British government has
agreed to provide everyone
with a minimum 2Mbps
broadband connection by 2012
but it is a commitment rather
than a legally binding ruling.
"The UK has a universal service
obligation which means
virtually all communities will
have broadband," said a
spokesman for the Department
for Culture, Media and Sport.
Making broadband a legal right
could have implications for
countries that plan tough
action on illegal file-sharing.
Both the UK and France have
said they may cut off or limit
the internet connections of
people who persistently
download music or films for
free.
The Finnish government has
adopted a more gentle
approach.
"We will have a policy where
operators will send letters to
illegal file-sharers but we are
not planning on cutting off
access," said Ms Linden.
A poll conducted for the BBC
World Service earlier this year
found that almost four in five
people around the world
believed that access to the
internet is a fundamental right.
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Latest news :

Finland's economy will likely recover from a deep recession this year and next although its outlook is "highly uncertain," the International Monetary Fund said Thursday.

Euro coin in front of the giant symbol of the Euro outside the headquarters of the European Central Bank.

Finland's export- and commodity-driven economy took a severe hit after the global financial crisis exploded in 2008, curtailing trade credit. Gross domestic product fell 8 percent last year, the worst performance in the euro area.

Although the economy is expected to grow in 2010 and 2011, the pace will likely be sluggish, the IMF said in its annual review of Finland.

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http://www.cnbc.com/id/38988097/New_...ls_out_Finland