[Dalewyn]

You're going to need to do a lot more than that to convince me that the internet is a human right and public need.

And yes, you do need to convince me: If it's "publicly funded" then I (and everyone else) am/are paying for it. Personally, I would sooner pay for another US navy aircraft carrier.

[quickthrower2]

I would say connectivity to the internet is a public need. Since so many government services are online, bank branches and post offices will keep closing and so on and so internet connectivity is to society what trains and buses are. So the government needs to ensure everyone can connect. It may be that 99% of the time there is nothing to do: John pays ISP or Telco and gets connected. But for rural or poor people they need to help people who can’t connect for whatever reason.

In terms of a government funded imgur backup: nah not convinced!

[seabass-labrax]

But would you pay for a another, say, French Navy or Turkish Navy aircraft carrier? There are few things which western democracies spend taxes on which don't benefit at least some proportion of the tax-paying population, and most of the cost of running those public services also goes back into private industry of the same country. A private internet company can employ foreign workers, pay foreign taxes, award dividends to foreign owners, and after all that, can be just as corrupt and expensive as a tax-funded service!

[squeaky-clean]

> then I (and everyone else) am/are paying for it

Don't you already pay for it?