Oh hey, also the same thing with environmental issues

  • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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    2 months ago

    As far as I know, connecting to the internet requires some kind of device or another. I don’t know if any Internet access point that operates on telepathy.

    One thing that all of those accessing devices have in common is that “money” is required to initially obtain them, and/or to maintain connectivity to the serving provider.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      One thing that all of those accessing devices have in common is that “money” is required to initially obtain them

      Even more important than “money” tends to be “electricity”. Which is why public investment in cheaper and cleaner power sources is the baseline for any kind of urban development.

      • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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        2 months ago

        True, but largely irrelevant to the issue at hand: It turns out that “electricity” is yet another thing that a needy individual can acquire with “money”.

        • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          “electricity” is yet another thing that a needy individual can acquire with “money”

          Go out into the woods and buy some electricity.

          • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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            2 months ago

            Ok. Yet another problem that can be solved when the individual has a little money.

            Despite this, I reject the premise of your argument: the predominant reason an impoverished person wouldn’t have access to Internet isn’t due to a lack of infrastructure. It is due to an inability to pay for it. The predominant reason an impoverished person wouldn’t have access to electricity isn’t due to a lack of infrastructure. It is due to a lack of ability to pay for it.

              • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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                2 months ago

                Well, that’s a lie.

                Starlink meets the definition of broadband, and is available to all of the US but the northernmost areas of Alaska. Since the population of that area is far less than 42 million, I’m calling bullshit.

                • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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                  2 months ago

                  Starlink meets the definition of broadband

                  You still need a receive to access Starlink. Ideally, a large capacity receiver, so you can capitalize on economy of scale.

                  That means you need electricity, and ideally some kind of commercial grade router, and some amount of IT staff capable of configuring access.

                  The existence of satellites is not sufficient to provide global broadband on its face.

                  • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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                    2 months ago

                    You still need a receive to access Starlink.

                    You need some sort of device to access any internet service. Internet is not telepathically delivered.

                    Starlink has portable transceivers designed for RVs, and the service is available to latitudes below (and slightly above) 53° north. The receivers are not significantly different than cellular-based home internet modems.

                    Based on your comments, I don’t think you actually understand what Starlink is.

                    It is truly amazing how a little “money” makes all of these poverty-related problems disappear.

                    Oh, I forgot: your argument that 42 million Americans don’t have access to broadband does not imply that 42 million Americans lack access to the internet, Amazon, or other online retailers. Broadband != Internet. Broadband is defined as 25mbps download and 3mbps upload. Amazon is perfectly usable on a tiny fraction of that.