Leaving the middle of the pack

During a recent debate at the Columbia Business School, the United States was described as being in the "middle of the pack" of broadband adoption among developed countries. Despite a pledge by President Bush in 2004 to have universal high speed Internet by the year 2007, we are still without a national high speed Internet policy -- let alone universal access. But if legislation that committees in the House and the Senate have passed becomes law, we will begin to map the future.

The debate at Columbia focussed on recent Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development data which ranks broadband deployment in the U.S. at 15th among industrialized nations.  While some have dismissed these numbers as making the situation in the U.S. appear worse than it is, a study by the Information and Technology Foundation (ITIF) shows that however you look at it, the U.S. lags behind other countries.

Thankfully, last week the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation that will take the first step towards universal access -- figuring out what currently exists, who is being served, and who is not being served. With this improved data, lawmakers can take into account the current state of high speed Internet access in their work to improve it, ultimately making it universal.  Similar legislation was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee this past summer.

With job growth, access to health care, educational opportunities and much more on the line, we have no time to waste.

Is U.S. Stuck in Internet's Slow Lane? (Associated Press)

Need for National Policy (SpeedMatters)

House committee is unanimous: Speed matters (SpeedMatters)