Free Communications: Because Getting Gouged by Telcos Isn't Freedom
Alberta Freedom Philosophy
"If we're so free, why does it cost $100 a month to send memes to our friends?"
Call Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation Email Minister of Technology and Innovation
Call Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Email Minister of Service Alberta
The Current Situation
Let's talk about our "competitive" telecommunications market:
- Three major companies that mysteriously charge the same prices
- Rural areas with internet speeds from 1995
- Phone plans that cost more than a car payment
- "Unlimited" plans with more footnotes than features
Why Communications Should Be Free
Because...
- The internet is essential infrastructure, not a luxury
- Most of the infrastructure was built with public money anyway
- Remote work needs reliable internet
- Modern democracy requires informed citizens
- Memes should flow freely
What Free Communications Looks Like
Internet Access
- Fiber to every home (yes, even the farms)
- Municipal broadband networks
- Public WiFi everywhere
- No data caps (revolutionary, we know)
- Actual gigabit speeds (not "up to" gigabit)
Mobile Service
- Coverage everywhere, not just where it's profitable
- No more "value-added" services nobody asked for
- Free roaming (borders are a social construct)
- Unlimited everything (for real this time)
- Public mobile infrastructure
Rural Connectivity
- High-speed internet for every farm
- Mobile coverage on every range road
- Satellite internet as backup
- Community mesh networks
- Equal speeds for equal citizens
The "But Competition Drives Innovation!" Myth
Reality Check
- Most innovation comes from public research anyway
- The Big 3 mostly innovate new ways to charge more
- Real competition would mean more than three choices
- South Korea has better internet (and they're half our size)
How We Get There
- Create a public telecommunications utility
- Break up the oligopoly
- Invest in public infrastructure
- Support community-owned networks
- Stop pretending the market will fix itself
Corporate Excuse Bingo
- "But our infrastructure costs!"
- "But our Canadian weather!"
- "But our population density!"
- "But our shareholders!"
- (All excuses somehow lead to record profits)
The Real Cost of Paid Communications
- Digital divide growing wider
- Remote communities left behind
- Students struggling to access online education
- Small businesses paying enterprise rates
- Families choosing between phones and food
What We're Missing
- Universal access to information
- Remote work opportunities
- Online education possibilities
- Digital innovation
- Cat videos (the people need their cat videos)
Deep Dive Resources
The Bottom Line
In a digital age, treating communication as a commodity rather than a right is like charging for access to roads. Oh wait, they're trying to do that too...
Pro Tip
If your telecom bill is higher than your grocery bill, something's wrong with the system (and it's not you).
