We're stuck in the slow lane of the information highway

WE'RE STUCK IN THE SLOW LANE OF THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Editorial Staff]
[Commentary] When it comes to reasonably priced, high-speed Internet service, the United States is an embarrassment. Despite years of promises from politicians and technology titans, the U.S. continues to lag far behind our global competitors. Worse, much of U.S. "broadband" service is only a smidgen faster than a dial-up modem. Both government and the telecommunications industry are to blame. The technology to deliver truly high-speed Internet access is there, especially for cable subscribers. Customers need to demand better service from providers. The government needs to step in, too. The U.S. needs a national strategy to get affordable broadband to every man, woman and child by the end of the decade. The federal government's lack of leadership in this area is a disgrace. Despite a 2004 promise by President Bush to deliver "universal, affordable access to broadband technology by the year 2007," his administration has done nothing to advance that goal.
http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_5836382?nclick_check=1

* A world laggard, the U.S. needs a real policy to bring affordable, high-speed Internet service to everyone
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Vindu Goel]
http://www.mercextra.com/blogs/vindu/2007/05/06/a-world-laggard-the-us-n...