Bush Administration: U.S. Maintains Telecommunications Technology Leadership

STATE DEPARTMENT LETTER ON OECD STUDY ON BROADBAND USE
[SOURCE: National Telecommunications and Information Administration]
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development released new broadband statistics on Monday that worry some in the US as the country fell farther behind in per capita broadband penetration. On Tuesday, the US Department of State responded with concerns about the OECD's methodology. David Gross, US Coordinator of Internatonal Communications and Information Policy, wrote that the OECD underestimates US broadband use because the organization relies solely on broadband subscribership numbers. Ambassador Gross believes the survey should also include Wi-Fi hotspot users -- especially on college campuses -- and people who use broadband at work. He writes: "The United States strongly believes that the world community would greatly benefit from a balanced picture of broadband deployment that accurately reflects and captures the rich variation of how people actually gain access to broadband services, and that provides such information in context."
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2007/State_OECD_042407.pdf

* Fact Sheet: United States Maintains Information and Communication Technology Leadership and Economic Strength
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration focuses on the bright side of the broadband research. It highlights findings from non-OECD research: The US has the most broadband subscribers, the most Internet users and the most Wi-Fi hotspots in the world. Between June, 2001 and June 2006, the number of homes with broadband in the United States has increased by 599%, from 9.2 million high-speed lines 64.6 million.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2007/ICTleader_042407.html