Isn the FCC considering a mandate for Free Internet?
Yes, it looks the federal government is indeed considering this. However, please note the above statement that federally-mandated free Internet access would take years to deploy, and there are lots and lots of issues with the free Internet that have yet to be worked. For example, would the Internet be available over Wifi, WiMax, DSL, cell phone, or something else entirely? Would free Internet users have to buy new equipment or even new computers? Also, the free Internet service being considered would be an ad-supported service with content filtering. As of yet, this would only be a policy mandate. It would still be up to the private Internet companies to decide whether the magnitude of ad support and the content filtering demanded is feasilbe and economical (meaning they may still choose not to build it.
