[jazzyk]

Q: Which part of the Web is public (like the roads)?

A: None.

- Apple is a private entity.

- Verizon (and all other ISPs) is/are a private entity.

- Telecom equipment and communication hubs are private entities.

If they wish, they can make you a non-existent entity (on the Web). We have two options:

- regulate some companies as utilities

- build a public network (just like the roads).

[undseg]

Having the basic right of internet access being treated as a public utility would help greatly with these issues, I agree. It would help with monopolies and issues with regulation.

Of course, I don't see such an opinion being particularly welcomed here.

A chunk of the basic infrastructure of the internet is free just out of sheer luck (good willed inventors and founders).