Slashdot Mirror
US Lags World In Broadband Access
An anonymous reader writes "When It Comes To Broadband, U.S. Plays Follow The Leader says a story in IWeek. Their thesis is that, while broadband access in the United States rose from 60 million users in March 2005 to 84 million in March 2006, the US is well behind countries like England and China. Indeed, what you may not realize is that the U.S. ranks a surprisingly poor 12th in worldwide broadband access, a situation which could threaten its ability to maintain its technological lead. The federal government is no help: the FCC has almost no data on the rate of hi-speed adoption, or of what the speed and quality of those services are. Broadband is more expensive here than in other nations, as well, almost 10 times as expensive by some estimates. The cost and poor quality of service aren't from population density, aren't from lack of interest, and are not from lack of technical know-how. So, what is holding us back?
Why don't we create a mob to go and rob rich people to make sure the poor have broadband? Never mind we already have government to do that. But seriously I would hate to have our broadband run as poorly as Canadian health care.
The article specifically discounts your category (1) population density reasons. England may have a higher population density but several other countries (and rural areas within other countries) mentioned have far lower population densities than the U.S.A.
Your other categories then become less and less comprehensible.
Been drinking by any chance?