Universal Internet Access

Howard Krein M.D., Ph.D

Chief Medical Officer

I just finished reading an article about “Wireless Philadelphia”, philadelphia’s quest for universal wifi to all its residents. The plans are to transform Philadelphia's neighborhoods by making high-speed internet access more available and affordable to all who live in the city.  The initiative is supposed to help people who are not online gain access with hardware, software, tech support/information, and broadband Internet service, so they can begin to use this technology to improve their educational, employment, health, and life opportunities.  Unfortunately, the project which has been in the making for over three years keep hitting snags.  This last snag was a big one…they ran out of money! Mayor Nutter (Philadelphia’s current Mayor) has pledged to try to revive this effort and I applaud him for this. Although the right to wifi is far from one of our god-given rights it can help improve countless lives through access to information. Being able to offer free or at least affordable high speed access to an entire city has huge implications on many levels.  This can lead to citywide changes from unemployment rates to increases in health and wellbeing. Certainly, one can’t argue that access to the internet can be not only empowering but life-changing.  Wouldn’t it be something if you could travel the entire country and never have to be without free internet access? Hopefully this won’t be as difficult to achieve as universal heathcare has been. It seems that although universal internet and universal healthcare are very different topics, the steps to successfully implementing either of these programs are the same.  First, we need to agree that this is a priority and set aside funds. Until the community (whether its a city or the country) agrees on the priority, chances are, it won't be accomplished.  So, Mayor Nutter, thanks for making this a priority! Now, what about universal healthcare for our city??