Yes. - Michael R. Bernstein

Yes. In Finland, I think it's now been legally set up as a public right... - Ian May

Yes - Manu

Yes, everyone should have access to the internet - Mol, FF Music Lover

Yes - aden {Wookie keeper}

As long as other information sources are controlled by so few people, absolutely. - Lo the Baker

of course... - RobertoC

Totally! - Nathalie

At this point, yes. - Spidra Webster

Yes and no. There is something to be said about having different levels of internet speed, that you pay more or less for. I can't see a public utility being able to handle that sort of complexity, since simple billing seems almost beyond them now. - Cassandra

Absolutely. Would you move into a house that didn't have running water or Electricity? How about one with no high-speed internet service? You'd probably say "uh, no thank you." It is an essential utility required to live in this day and age. Well, it's at least as essential as electricity anyway. Sure, you CAN live without it...you won't die directly from lack of it, but living without it makes everything you do much more laborous and time consuming. It effectively cut you off from modern society and puts you in a disadvantaged class. - veo

YES!!! - Auntie Buttinsky Botts

The UK is trying to give *everyone* access to the Internet. So perhaps it could be included in our "utilities" at that stage. - Kol Tregaskes

Only thing is Kol, Virgin Media's average speeds are about as inspiring as Comcast's are here. - Ian May

The phone isn't considered a utility. But, I think both the phone and high speed internet should be. - Yolanda

I don't have a landline. Not had one for some years. I do have a cellphone, but I make very few calls. I could almost do without a phone these days in many ways. - Ian May

Mind you in the UK, they privatized water, gas and electric. It went up in price in leaps and bounds, the service didn't get any better; in many cases it got worse, and now you get attacked by spotty-faced twats in the High Street trying to get you to change your supplier for the promise of an initial discount. Then there's the Ambulance chasers "Have you had an accident in the last three years, sir?" "No, but you'll have one in a minute if you don't get out of my way!" - Ian May