US Getting Beat By Tasmania In Race To Big Broadband Future

[Commentary] With each passing day America's national broadband plan looks more and more pathetic.

Yesterday I was reminded of Tasmania's national broadband ambitions. They've set the goal of reaching 200,000 homes and businesses with 100Mbps within the next four years, which is estimated to cost $700 million in total. The Federal Communications Commission set the goal for the US of reaching 100 million homes with 100Mbps by the year 2020. Comparing the two, Tasmania's goal of 200,000 homes is roughly/relatively similar as the US's of 100 million relative to each country's respective population (500,000 vs. 300,000,000). And yet Tasmania's goal will see its people achieving their 100Mbps future six years sooner than we will in America. As another comparison, if the US were to step up like Tasmania is financially, then relative to GDP we should be finding some way to invest more than $400 billion in building our country's 100Mbps broadband infrastructure.