State Broadband Inititatives Attract Attention

The Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) has featured universal high speed Internet access as a "model initiative" on their Web site. They recognize that the goal of universal high speed Internet access is something we have yet to achieve nationally, but are progressing toward on a state level.

For starters, the United States doesn't have a national high speed internet policy. In fact, we're the only industrialized nation without one.

According to the DLC document,

During the 1990s the United States was a leader in broadband adoption, but since 2001, when we ranked 4th in broadband adoption rates, we have dropped significantly to 12th.

Less than a quarter of American households that could have high speed Internet access actually subscribe. Unfortunately this is not surprising, considering high speed Internet access costs about twice as much as dial-up Internet access.

The document argues that access, for both individual citizens and businesses, is a factor in determining America's continuing competitiveness in the global economy:

The question in the end is not whether this country will eventually have widespread access to broadband. That is virtually certain. The issue is how soon fuller broadband access will be available, and who will catalyze it. A wait-and-see approach means America will lag behind its global competitors.

In the meantime, while America waits for the national, universal high speed Internet access that we need, some state governments have stepped up to the plate, offering plans, programs, and legislation to further universal access in their states.

Here's a short list of the programs the DLC document highlighted:

Virginia's Mid-Atlantic Broadband Coopertive

Tennessee Broadband Task Force

Maine's ConnectME Authority

California's Broadband Task Force

New York's Universal Broadband Initiative

Universal High-Speed Broadband Access (Democratic Leadership Council)

National High Speed Internet for All Policy (Speed Matters)

Virginia's Mid-Atlantic Broadband Coopertive

Tennessee Broadband Task Force

Maine's ConnectME Authority

California's Broadband Task Force

New York's Universal Broadband Initiative