The National Broadband Network has, at the time of writing, cost Australians $51 billion dollars, is running years behind schedule, and fulfilled every warning from tech experts about how the final version of it was in no way fit for purpose.
These warnings ranged from “this hybrid tech plan put forward by the Coalition is inadequate and will definitely not work” to “fibre to the node is like building a highway that feeds onto a single dirt track and will be a disaster” to a series of high-pitched screams.
And so, after this litany of triumphs, now NBN Co. have a suggestion: Australians should pay to use it, for it a third time.
See, if you’re on the NBN you’ve paid to build the thing through your taxes, and then you pay again every month to access it through your ISP. And NBN Co feel this means you’re freeloading on the network if you’re using in a way that involves the transfer of data.
Especially if you’re streaming television, you monster. And thus their suggestion is that they charge for a two-tier internet where you pay more for access to the “fast” internet that can supposedly handle streaming TV and other things like “everything”.
Presumably this would a premium slugged onto Netflix et al and passed on to you via increased fees, and it this sounds familiar it’s because the US has been trying to do the same for years and has been prevented thus far only via a strong domestic campaign to maintain “net neutrality”.
That’s the idea that usable internet shouldn’t be the exclusive domain of the rich, especially if we’re going to see things like telemedicine become the norm, and also that the providers shouldn’t be monitoring what you use the internet for and blocking your access based on how much you’re paying them.
It’s enshrined in law in Canada and Europe, and it’ll surprise you not at all that it’s not protected here because that would require parliament to understand what an internet is.
Anyway, the NBN will be releasing their review of how much Australians should be paying to access their own asset in November. And if you’re feeling outraged, now is the time to get involved with groups like Digital Rights Watch.
Or, you know, get ready to enjoy standard NBN definition, where shows are a series of blurry, static images to which you provide your own commentary. GET READY FOR A GOLDEN AGE OF INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT!