We are hearing a lot of talk about infrastructure. The much heralded bill that has made its way through the congressional sausage maker is expected to “invest” untold billions on roads, bridges and... heaven knows what. One of the components frequently mentioned is the computer infrastructure. (The figure I've heard as I post this is a whopping 7 billion). While a 21st century version of the rural electrification act that provides broadband access to East Cupcake, Wyoming sounds tempting, I doubt it will do much for the economy. I am sure, however, that will do nothing good for the Internet. With all due respect to the good people of East Cupcake, we don't need to add thousands of Internet newbies as new cannon fodder for the botnet herders.
Access to our infrastructure for the most part is controlled. Think of the extraordinary measures we take to protect the those roads and bridges and the people and commerce that traverse them. Drivers have to have a license. In order to get a license, they have to pass a test, and pay a fee. If they drive a large truck, or a small motorcycle, they have to get a special license. The vehicles themselves have to be inspected, registered and insured. Why? Aside from the generating revenue that politicians can “invest” in fulfilling their promises to make our futures bright, we are all safer when our fellow infrastructure users have some notion of how to drive and extra incentive to keep their brake linings maintained.
But not so on the Internet. Anyone with the cyber equivalent of a scooter can coast onto the information superhighway, and if their lack of preparation or ineptness results in a 20-car pileup and commensurate casualties...well, its all just part of life on the new electronic frontier.
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