If you’re reading this now, chances are you’re online. In the past decade the Internet has become a central force in our lives, responsible for everything from our bank accounts to our celebrity gossip, and with technology so prevalent some are now arguing for free broadband access. Should surfing the Net remain a cash business, or is it time for free admission into cyberspace?
Metcalfe posited that a network's value is proportional to the square of the number of nodes/users of that network. Whether you ascribe to Metcalfe's Law or some variant thereof, the reasoning is simple -- when more people use a telecommunications system, the social and economic benefits of expanding the network accrue to everyone. Thus, it's in everyone's best interest to get as many people connected as possible.
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