4 ms·
It seems like so much of the internet is reliant upon technology created by, and supported by, people who get little to no reward or recognition for their impor
by Digit-Al 9y ago
It seems like so much of the internet is reliant upon technology created by, and supported by, people who get little to no reward or recognition for their important contributions.
An idea (not a serious one, but a point for discussion): in civil society we have a government that collects taxes that are used to fund the vital infrastructure that allows the society to function. How about if all ISPs were to charge a very small levy to customers? This levy would go to an independent and neutral body to be used to pay for the salaries of those who are creating the internet infrastructure we all rely upon.
Obviously there would be many problems with trying to implement such a system across the entire world. Worth discussion though?
P.S. I have no doubt that this idea has probably already been thought of and discussed before. There is nothing new under the sun :-)
[edit: fixed fat finger typo.]
- thanksgiving 9y ago> How about if all ISPs were to charge a very small levy to customers? At least in the US, we know we can't trust the ISPs to "do the right thing". Maybe things are different elsewhere but I cannot support this idea in the US. Sorry.
- ianai 9y agoit seems too much to both not support a thing directly and also decry potential support as unfit.
- na85 9y agoThe ISPs would not support it. They would take the levy and find some clever loophole to steal it or to use it to reinforce their own walled gardens. You're talking about possibly the scummiest, least moral companies in the global tech industry.
- damnfine 9y agoLARGE ISPs. The small ones are fighting tooth and nail to survive and bring the local people better internet. It has to be folly to be in it for the money at many local scales unfortunately. Thats why I get one choice of 2mb internet here. There are local guys working out of a pickup truck laying copper and fiber to local business. #notallisps
- kwhitefoot 9y agoSounds like the cassette and compact disk taxes that were implemented in some countries. Did they ever support the performers who really needed the money?
- TremendousJudge 9y agoNot exactly the same. A more accurate analogy would be if the CD was invented by some volunteers instead of Sony, and everyone used them but the volunteers never got paid for their contribution
- amelius 9y agoWhy not let projects ask for government funding? Perhaps a specialized agency could help with this.
- QAPereo 9y agoPolitically at least, because in the US you'd hear screams of "Socialism" and all of the usual nonsense any time you try to marginally improve anyone's lives below the top 1%.
- ftxrcc 9y agoI was thinking exactly this. Any calls for help to any person would just be called socialism and get shot down immediately.
- keeler 9y ago> How about if all ISPs were to charge a very small levy to customers? How about levying such a tax on ISPs themselves? They're the ones making a profit off of the infrastructure you're talking about.
- sooheon 9y agoThey mean the same thing (if implemented properly). The taxes will be split by the ISPs and the consumers.