[Dalewyn]

>Free access to the entire internet is a right Americans have always enjoyed.

Unless you're freeloading off of public and open wifi networks, every single person in America is paying someone (who reserves the right to refuse service to anyone) for the privilege of accessing the internet.

[arcanemachiner]

Free as in freedom

[Dalewyn]

Yes, free as in freedom.

Unless you're freeloading off of public or open wifi networks, you are paying someone for the privilege to access the internet on their terms. The US government couldn't care less one way or another whether you have internet.

Internet access is not a right. It could be in another century or two like how the telephone turned out, but we aren't there yet and we shouldn't speak of it as such.