Americans falling woefully behind

[Slappie 9]

A July 2005 report from the FCC hailed recent progress in improving broadband access in the United States. But upon closer scrutiny, the claims made in the report — and a subsequent op-ed by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin published in the Wall Street Journal — are, at best, wildly optimistic. Broadband Reality Check, a new report authored by Free Press research fellow S. Derek Turner, calls into question the FCC's conclusions. Among its findings:



The FCC overstates broadband penetration rates. The FCC report considers a ZIP code covered by broadband service if just one person subscribes. No consideration is given to price, speed or availability of that connection throughout the area.


The FCC misrepresents exactly how many connections are "high-speed." The FCC defines "high-speed" as 200 kilobits per second, barely enough to receive low-quality streaming video and far below what other countries consider to be a high-speed connection.


The United States remains 16th in the world in broadband penetration per capita. The United States also ranks 16th in terms of broadband growth rates, suggesting our world ranking won't improve any time soon. On a per megabit basis, U.S. consumers pay 10 to 25 times more than broadband users in Japan.


Despite FCC claims, digital divide persists and is growing wider. Broadband adoption is largely dependent on socio-economic status. In addition, broadband penetration in urban and suburban in areas is double that of rural areas.


Reports of a broadband "price war" are misleading. Analysis of "low-priced" introductory offers by companies like SBC and Comcast reveal them to be little more than bait-and-switch gimmicks.


The FCC ignores the lack of competition in the broadband market. Cable and DSL providers control almost 98 percent of the residential and small-business broadband market. Yet the FCC recently eliminated "open access" requirements for DSL companies to lease their lines, rules that fostered the only true competition in the broadband market.

"The FCC is trying to put the best face on this problem it can, but the people who can't afford or don't have access to high-speed Internet know the truth," said Mark Cooper, research director of the Consumer Federation of America. "Affordable high-speed Internet means stronger economic growth, more educational opportunities and exposure to diverse points of view. If the FCC continues to ignore reality, the gap between the haves and have-nots will become too wide to bridge."

The three groups call on Congress to take notice of these alarming trends and enact clear policies that will free the broadband market from domination by a handful of large cable and telecommunications companies. Their recommendations include ensuring open access to all high-speed communications networks, removing restrictions on public entities that seek to offer broadband services to consumers, and opening up more of the broadcast spectrum for wireless Internet applications.

"Fudging the facts won't provide high-speed Internet access to those who need it most," said Jeannine Kenney, senior policy analyst for Consumers Union. "If the FCC is content to let cable and phone companies control the broadband market, then consumers need a third option — wireless broadband that is less expensive and which doesn't depend on DSL or cable modems. It offers the best and perhaps now the only way to close the digital divide."

[url "http://www.freepress.net/docs/broadband_report.pdf">Full report here

"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them."

[NWFlyer 2]

Damn you! That article took way too long to download on my 14.4K dial-up connection.










Just kidding... I live in techno-land where we don't patronize coffee shops if they haven't added high-speed wirelesss yet.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[Slappie 9]

It really is sad though the way we're falling behind. In Japan and Korea 25-30meg connections are not special. They're the norm... Granted they're also not as rural as the US.

I can't imagine 30mgbps jeez the porn I could download!!

"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them."

[davedlg 0]

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It really is sad though the way we're falling behind. In Japan and Korea 25-30meg connections are not special. They're the norm... Granted they're also not as rural as the US.

I can't imagine 30mgbps jeez the porn I could download!!

I think a lot of this is due to the vast area and relative sparseness of the US population. The population density in Japan is 340/square km, Korea is 490/square km. The US population density is 32/square km. The infrastructure required to get broadband to the average American is much much higher then in most other countries with high population densities. We are also way behind in many wireless technologies such as digital radio and wireless phones for the same reason.

[Slappie 9]

Oh no not arguing those fact. The FCC though is putting a very altered spin on the facts.

"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them."

[dixieskydiver 0]

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Oh no not arguing those fact. The FCC though is putting a very altered spin on the facts.

The government trying to paint a rosier than actual situation? Never! Lies, all lies....

Dixie
HISPA #56 Facil Rodriguez
"Scientific research has shown that 60% of the time, it works every time."

[FrEaK_aCcIdEnT 0]

I am on a 15 mb fiber optics connection at home. Verizon is using are city as a test market. they have a 30 mb service for it, but its more for businesses. it costs something like 200 a month for 30 mb. but the 15 is only 45 a month.

ExPeCt ThE uNeXpEcTeD!
DoNt MiNd ThE tYpOs, Im LaZy On CoRrEcTiOnS!

[bluheelrtx 0]

Connected at 24k.

If a website has a shockwave or other hi-res intro, I just skip it.

Content is all that matters. Fuck frufru presentation.
--
Jason
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Jason
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Some people never go crazy. What truly boring lives they must lead.

[riddler 0]

The Internet is the great equalizer, and I believe it will be responsible for wealth redistribution from America to other, poorer countries, due to our complete lack of foresight in this area. The American government doesn't want to pay for it - they want corporations to pay for it so they can "regulate" (i.e. collect taxes) on it. The lawyers and lobbyists are vying for special interest which doesn't allow for competition. Technology companies haven't even attempted to make is easy enough for the average person to use. American IT workers are going to wake up poor and have to immigrate to Mexico or Southeast Asia to find a decent job.

Another thing you can find in even the poorest countries that you can't find here - Internet Cafes.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[Knobee 0]

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Another thing you can find in even the poorest countries that you can't find here - Internet Cafes.

That's because we all have high-speed Internet in our houses. Don't need to go to a dive somewhere to send out our e-mail scams... we can do it from the comfort of our own living rooms..

Those that have not jumped can not understand
Those that have jumped can not explain.

[Bolas 5]

The other reason is that the internet companies want high speed internet at cafes treated like pay per view. They're lobbying right now to force companies offering wireless access to pay much higher rates.

Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting
If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh.

[Amazon 7]

  Quote

The government trying to paint a rosier than actual situation? Never! Lies, all lies....

Say it aint so...