Fixing our fraying Internet infrastructure

FIXING OUR FRAYING INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Michael Kleeman, UC San Diego]
[Commentary] In our industrial and information society, our daily lives depend on things we take for granted: electricity, fresh water, communications and our road system. In the same way that levees and bridges need to be safe and reliable, our communications networks need to handle our growing Internet traffic. Imagine a day without phone or Internet service, and then imagine a week without them during a crisis. The broadband infrastructure in the United States is largely invisible to all but a few engineers. Were it as visible as a road system it would appear to be excellent in some places, but riddled with potholes in others; heavily congested at many times and locations; and in need of massive redesign. The problem is that we have reached a point of disconnect between the traditional Internet's architecture and the needs of today's customers. The technological formula for broadband competitiveness is simple: deliver more quality bandwidth to more people faster. A national broadband policy is an essential part of the formula. A central component of this policy must drive us toward universal access to broadband. High-speed Internet access is not a luxury, but should be considered a necessity for members of a developed country. Fifty percent, even 75 percent, penetration is not acceptable. We need ubiquitous broadband penetration in the U.S. if we intend to claim leadership in the next Internet age.
http://www.news.com/Fixing-our-fraying-Internet-infrastructure/2010-1034...