Antidote got unplugged!

DELSON – The Maison de Jeunes de Candiac finally got unplugged. It can consequently count on a free wireless Internet rather than by regular cable with the help of the OSBL Montérégie Sans Fil. It’s a whole privilege when we know that few public areas use one such service in Rousillon.

If about 180 places exist in Sherbrooke where it is possible to be connect by wireless Internet without expenses, 175 in Montreal and just as much in Quebec City, figures in Montérégie leave astonished : only 27.

The founder of Montérégie Sans Fil (MSF), Raymond quintal, is categoric.

“Regions need adjustement, as he starts. As soon as we get out of big centers, it is not easy. It is necessary to go to the library mostly. We need this to change. We want to overturn the steam and to democratize the access to Internet.”

Free, really? Almost. The non-profit-making organism which he coordinates asked for 100$ in cost of equipment for the Maison de Jeunes, less than the normal expense for it, and contents itself of an annual service payment of 50$. A symbolic sum when we consider that the technicians are all volunteers and have to move with their money. Presently, the help of the government is necessary for the distribution of the wireless Web.

The Web for everyone

Antidote is the only Maison de Jeunes to offer Internet without wired connection. This does not have the reason to exist for the fonder of the OSBL.

“Governemental services are completely online : Unemployment, old age pension, etc. Even scholastic projetc of the primary school requires a connection to Internet”, continues the founder.

For him, fixed rates wobbling between 40$ and 60$ a month cannot find takers at the poorest. Reason as which the society has the obligation to palliate this situation.

Le Reflet – 2009 July 24th