Ask A Scientist© Computer Science Archive

Index Key:   COM004
Author:      otis richardson
Subject:     National Information Infrastructure.
I am presently doing research about the NII (National Information Infra-
structure).  How will the concept of 'universal service' be affordable to
all Americans?

Response #:  1 of 1
Author:      asmith
In principle, the costs of network connection (to the internet for example)
are really cheap - far, far cheaper than interstate phone service for
example.  The most expensive part is probably the local connections to the
service, and that should at least be cheaper than cable.  Of course, that is
assuming the phone companies are not allowed to monopolize the business and
gouge consumers for all they are worth.
That is referring to the real costs of transferring data.  Actually getting
the data you want may cost more, but so far the structures to do that (aside
from CompuServe etc.) have not been set up yet, so who knows.  It really
should be relatively cheap though - unless monopolistic practices are
allowed.