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America's Not So Up to Speed

Posted by Zonk on from the tortoise-only-wins-it-so-long dept.

indiejade writes "According to The Broadband Life, the U.S. has quite a way to go before catching up to countries such as South Korea, Japan and even Canada when it comes to percentage of the population enjoying high-speed internet access. 'In 2000, the U.S. ranked third in Net users connecting at high-speed among the top-30 world economies. The next year it fell to fourth. Now it's 11th,' the article said." Commentary on this is also available at Foreign Affairs and The New York Times.

13 of 516 comments (clear)

  1. No kidding... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm still downloading that Pam and Tommy Lee video that i started years ago....

  2. Not first post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I would have got it but this connection is SO DAMN SLOW!

    1. Re:Not first post by TheoMurpse · · Score: 2, Funny

      I think you should win some sort of "unlucky dumbass" award since you were first post.

  3. Not a fair comparision by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Let's see which country uses more speed.

  4. Re:Country size matters by Rosyna · · Score: 3, Funny

    Always remember to ignore any typos I make while reading my posts. I'll kindly return the favor.

  5. Re:ALL infrastructure by Yotsuya · · Score: 2, Funny

    And teaching kids to *read*:

    The sentence breaks down as:
    (I like broadband) but (its pretty far down on the (list of critical infrastructure projects we have neglected)) to (pursue war, enriching the upper class, and funding a global colonial regime).

    --
    Claude Angers
  6. Korean-Starcraft joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    But dude, have you seen them play Starcraft?

    A few soldiers dying is worth it if you get to see 7 battlecruisers locked down in 7 seconds. Fucking brilliant.

  7. Re:Country size matters by derfy · · Score: 3, Funny
    Finally, keep in mind that this general rule: too much Internet makes you stupid.

    No I'm....doesn't!

  8. IT'S NOT A WEEK AT /. WITHOUT THIS STORY! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Man....we almost closed out the week without a "USA is a technological backwater compared to all these countries with a lower standard of living with far higher population density and enormous federal pork to build their broadband connections" story. Thank God we dodged that bullet!

    1. Re:IT'S NOT A WEEK AT /. WITHOUT THIS STORY! by Stoutlimb · · Score: 4, Funny

      " Its people are better educated, they live longer, and they have a smaller homeless population. "

      I personally think that our low homeless population is due to our harsh winters. They provide a very strong incentive for people to live indoors.

      And the hobos we have that do live outside in the winter are usually DAMN tough customers.

      .

  9. Re:Country size matters by Feztaa · · Score: 3, Funny

    I have to say "Look at the picture!"

    All this map proves is that Canadians are more conscious of light pollution... ;)

  10. *Even Canada!* by blorg · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't mind the negative comparisons to Japan, South Korea, Denmark. But *Canada*! That really hurts.

  11. Gasp!!! by PhotoGuy · · Score: 3, Funny
    even Canada...

    Even CANADA? GASP!!! (*Slaps face with both hands in amazement...*)

    Yes, we occasionally do stop squatting in the ditch stuffing berries up our noses, to surf the net. Sheeeeesh.

    --
    Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.