A Challenge to Gordon

Gordon has penned an article in the The Times in which he explains just how important a broadband connection is to us all:

a fast internet connection is now seen by most of the public as an essential service, as indispensable as electricity, gas and water.

Now, I'd be the first to agree that broadband is important. The current xkcd comic did ring some bells:

But "as indispensable as [...] water"? Seriously? Does Gordon expect us to believe that?

Time for another letter, I think. Here's text of the one I've written to Gordon:

Dear Mr Brown,

I read with interest your article in today’s issue of The Times, in which you state:

"a fast internet connection is now seen by most of the public as an essential service, as indispensable as electricity, gas and water"

Your comment is somewhat hedged (“is now seen by most of the public”), but you are essentially asking us to accept the contention that a broadband connection is a basic human need. I find this somewhat difficult to accept. I would therefore like to invite you to prove your point experimentally. I propose that, at a mutually convenient date, the two of us take part in a comparative test. I will go without broadband (in all forms) for one week. Over the same period, you will go without water.

Please let me know when you would like the challenge to take place.

Yours sincerely,

I'll let you know if I receive a reply.