[kictanet] A world laggard, the U.S. needs a real policy to bring affordable, high-speed Internet service to everyone

[Alex Gakuru]

[Local consumers are not alone in this discourse.]

[Mercury News]
http://www.mercextra.com/blogs/vindu/2007/05/06/a-world-laggard-the-us-needs-a-real-policy-to-bring-affordable-high-speed-internet-service-to-everyone/
<snip>
When it comes to reasonably priced, high-speed Internet service, the
United States is an embarrassment. Despite years of promises from
politicians and technology titans, the U.S. continues to lag far
behind our global competitors.

During the past year, the U.S. slipped from 12th to 15th place in
broadband Internet penetration per capita, behind much of Western
Europe, Korea, Japan and Canada, according to a new report from the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development.

Worse, much of U.S. "broadband" service is only a smidgen faster than
a dialup modem. Japan leads the world in cutting-edge fiber
connections, offering speeds of up to 100 Mbps to 7.9 million home
subscribers in 2006. In the U.S., only a paltry 700,000 have fiber
connections.
.....
Both government and the telecommunications industry are to blame. The
technology to deliver truly high-speed Internet access is there, especially
for cable subscribers. Customers need to demand better service from
providers.
.....

What can you do about this shameful state of Internet access?

First of all, speak up as a customer. If you're in the Bay Area,
complain to Comcast and AT&T/SBC/Pacific Bell and ask them why they
offer such slow Internet speeds. Demand better.

A coalition of consumer groups has launched SavetheInternet.com, which
is principally dedicated to net neutrality (the principle that no Web
site should get favored access from an Internet service provider) but
also crusades for affordable broadband. You can join their efforts to
push for better broadband.

Contact the FCC directly and tell them you're tired of seeing the U.S.
lag the rest of the world and they need to start pushing the cable and
DSL companies to upgrade service.

Ask the president why we he has utterly failed to keep his 2004
promise to give every American access to high-speed Internet service.

And finally, contact your congressional representatives. House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi campaigned last year on bringing affordable broadband to
everyone within five years. Hold her to it!
<snip>
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