EU Shares US Telecom Woes

In many ways, the United States and the European Union are grappling with the same telecommunications challenges. Among them: finding money to invest in broadband expansion, maximizing the scarce spectrum resource for wireless services and keeping networks open while safeguarding competition.

“You see a reluctance of governments, because of the debt problems, to invest in the broadband infrastructure, but we desperately need this infrastructure to really be competitive in the global market,” said James Elles, European Parliament member from the United Kingdom and a member of the Conservative Party. “You see Asia making huge strides as if money is no object to get the highest speeds of broadband,” said Elles. “My sense is that in both the U.S. and in Europe, we don't have the leadership necessary to understand the importance of having universal access to information and universal infrastructure,” he added.