WELL-CONNECTED:All the candidates touted their strong advocacy of Internet access, with the DPP’s Tsai Ing-wen saying that ‘broadband Internet service is a basic civil right’
Taipei Times
Date: Jan 03, 2016
By: Alison Hsiao / Staff reporter
Questions ranging from technology, the judicial system, the pension system,
The presidential candidates from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), Eric Chu, the People First Party, James Soong, and the Democratic Progressive Party, Tsai Ing-wen, left to right, stand behind their podiums during yesterday’s televised debate in Taipei. Photo provided by the organizers of the debate
monetary policy and workers’ rights from people online were put to the three candidates yesterday during the second and final presidential debate.
All three candidates agreed that free Internet access should be provided, along with fast, good-quality connections, and that the digital divide should be narrowed by the government.
People First Party (PFP) presidential candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜) said that Internet connection speed is one of the major projects in his development proposal that aims at “overtaking South Korea and catching up with Singapore” by 2030.
“I would transform Taiwan into one of the top 10 nations with the fastest Internet connection speeds in four years. It is currently ranked 33rd,” he said.
He said that while access to the Internet, with its devices needing basic maintenance, could not be free, it should be kept at a low price and the government would have to work on the security of the flow of information. [FULL STORY]
