Europe Says It Leads US in Broadband Use

The European Union has re-established its lead over the United States in the use of high-speed computer connections, making the Continent "the world leader in broadband Internet," the European Commission said on Tuesday. Viviane Reding, the commissioner who oversees the Internet, said that the spread of the technology could help power the European economic recovery and that continuing the development of high-speed Internet could create two million jobs by 2015. But she also warned that obstacles needed to be overcome to maximize the economic benefits from digital networks. In particular, Commissioner Reding said, European Union member countries should make it easier for new entrants in telecommunications markets. "Governments must show leadership by adopting coordinated policies that dismantle existing barriers to new services," she said. Despite Europe's leading position, a third of European Union citizens have never used the Internet, and only 7 percent have bought goods or services online from a vendor based in a neighboring country, Commissioner Reding said. She acknowledged that many young Internet users were reluctant to pay to download or view digital content like music and movies — a factor that could blunt the economic gains from increased network access.