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COSTA RICA |
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Court To Decide On Appeal For Free Wireless
In Costa Rica
The Sala Constitucional (Constitutional
Court) has accepted for study a "recurso
amparo" (appeal) that would require the
State to offer free internet services over a
wireless network.
The appeal was presented by Eric Briones in
an action against the Instituto
Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) and the
Poder Ejecutivo, and the courts have asked
the government to respond with arguments
within three days.
Briones, a lawyer, argues that the State is
violating the rights of communications in
not generalizing access to the internet,
saying that there are two groups of internet
users, one who can pay for the services
provided by the Radiográfica Costarricense (Racsa)
and the private cable companies, and the
other group, who don't have the financial
ability to have internet in their homes.
"As a citizen, I see the internet been
universalized", said Briones, referring to
the move by Panama's president, Ricardo
Martinelli, who last week decreed all
Panamians to have free access to wireless
internet.
The lawyer added that in Costa Rica, in some
areas, internet access is not available even
if one could afford to pay.
Briones feels the government is
contradicting itself, insisting that people
use the services of "Gobierno Digital"
(Digital Government) to interact with
government institutions and agencies, while
it does not concern itself with providing
internet access to all citizens.
This is the first time such an appeal has
been made.
On the outcome, Briones says that the court
can vote in favour of him or against,
however, he felt it important to plant the
seed for free wireless internet for
everyone.
Briones says that communications is a human
right and the government has the
infrastructure to provide the service.
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