New report confirms U.S. is slipping further behind

The United States has slipped to 15th in high speed Internet penetration, with just 23.3 percent, according a new report from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. This news follows an unfortunate down trend—in 2006, the U.S. was ranked 12th among OECD countries in high speed Internet penetration and in 2001, 4th.

“The fact is that the countries outperforming the United States have something we lack—a coherent national broadband policy,” said S. Derek Turner, research director of Free Press.

The U.S. was ranked 22nd for cost of high speed Internet with an average monthly price of $53, as compared to the top-rated countries, which on average charged a little over $30 a month.

In order to stop the U.S. from falling futher behind the rest of the world, we need a national high speed Internet policy. Currently, we are the only industrialized nation without one.

OECD broadband statistics – December 2007 (OECD)

Is the U.S. falling behind in broadband? (SFGate.com)

Need for National Policy (Speed Matters)