Finland makes broadband a 'legal right'

Joie de Vivre —

[quote="BBC News"]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%.
...
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.[/quote]

Forum

TPOS — Tue, 7 Sep 2010 - 12:37

We want to ensure that all of Britain benefits from the digital revolution and has access to broadband. In government, we believe it is right to intervene in order to deliver access to those parts of the country to which the market will not. We will make the necessary investment in our digital infrastructure, delivering universal access to broadband by 2012, with an ambition for 90 per cent of the population to access superfast next-generation broadband by 2017.

From Labour party's culture/media/sport policies