The Internet as a Public Good
According to an article in TechPresident, “Who will be America’s First TechPresident,” the Internet should be a public good, as “every American should be able to take advantage of the Internet for use in their lives and businesses.”
A public good is one that is non-rivaled and non-excludable. This means that one individual’s consumption of the good does not reduce the amount of the good that is available to everyone else. Further, everyone has access to the good and cannot be excluded from the good.
Because we are becoming a Digital Nation, it is important that the Internet is not a vehicle that further exacerbates the distance between classes that exists already. If the Internet was available to everyone, we would theoretically acquire knowledge, communicate, and create wealth to better fight poverty. If the Internet was a public good, no one would be electronically isolated.
According to a study by Richard L. O’Bryant of Northeastern University, there would be an overall public benefit if every citizen had in-home Internet access. The study found that “in-home Internet availability can have a positive effect on a low-income family’s ability to access personal information, personal communications, and personal resources.”
However, there are also negative consequences to making the Internet a public good. Often, the government must step in and regulate the good. According to economist Otto Doering, public goods are “socially valuable commodities whose provision cannot be financed by private enterprise, or at least not at socially desirable prices.”
Many fear that once the government becomes involved in something, it goes down hill. Freedom of speech on the Internet is a tricky concept that has yet to be completely defined. If the government were to regulate the Internet as a public good, it would probably exert control over the content. A significant element of the Internet right now is that it is a medium of expression that transcends all boundaries. If the government were to become involved, it may actually restrict expression and growth, and regulate the available information.
Computers with Internet access at a public library
It would be one thing if the Internet was not available at all for many people. But schools and public libraries provide free Internet access for children and adults who are looking for information. When many Americans are still struggling just to make ends meet, I think it is more important to focus on using resources to help those who are still without adequate food, housing, and healthcare.
