Strike up the broadband

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[Commentary] Not everyone has equal access to the Internet. Broadband users tend to be wealthier people who live in suburban and urban neighborhoods. Meanwhile, some 17 percent of Internet households still dwell in the slow world of dial-up, according to US Census figures. And while South Korea has the most widespread high-speed services, the United States is seventh on this list, according to a recent report from Akamai Technologies, an Internet server company. Rather than accept this uneven playing field, a growing chorus is wisely asking the federal government to develop a national broadband policy to ensure that every resident and business has fast, affordable Internet access. What would a plan look like? Approaches to consider include more government and nonprofit coordination with the broadband industry, which is investing billions of dollars in infrastructure. The policy could also seed public/private partnerships to put fiber optics in rural areas. And federal grants could fund more school-based programs that put low-income students on the Internet's fast track. Education is essential. More people and institutions need the skills and motivation to use broadband. Nonprofits are providing training. And cities and states are offering e-government services that should attract people. But more should be done to target nonusers.


Strike up the broadband