[zinghaboi]

Why isn't facebook running this programme in USA? There are 50 million Americans without internet. Although 50 million is not as big as 600 million Indians without internet, it is still bigger than populations of many countries Facebook is running Free Basics in. The Americans without internet are usually old and poor and internet connectivity can do a lot for them. A lot of these people cannot afford the internet.

My only question...would Americans think it would be wise to destroy Net Neutrality?? Just asking. Perhaps someone should try and get Facebook to start this in USA.

[wildmusings]

According to this http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/28/15-of-americ... , only 19% of those without internet (2.8% of the total population) cited cost as a factor. EDIT: I looked further into those numbers (http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/09/25/whos-not-online-and-wh...) and only 6% (not even 1% of the US population) said "too expensive" when asked why they didn't have internet. The other 13% is from those who answered "don't have a computer". So in short, this isn't a problem in the US.

[himprak]

It's not a problem in US doesn't mean the initiative will not be welcomed there. Toll free phone numbers exist and are used extensively in the US, Free Basics can work on similar lines. Obviously, introducing the initiative will raise questions on violation of net neutrality.