Fast, Universal Broadband: Dirty Secret about the Roadblock

Where's the fastest broadband service? The Federal Communications Commission's effort to expand availability of high-speed Internet access throughout the US offers a clue as to where -- and why -- the best services exist. Last month the FCC asked companies, organizations and individuals to comment on the state of broadband in the US as part of its now-annual "706 Inquiry." The FCC will use the information to help with the National Broadband Plan, which aims to make high-speed Internet access available to every US resident. As responses start to come in, many service providers (including Verizon and Comcast) have made it clear that the FCC's current standard of 768 kbps down and 200 kbps up is an adequate speed definition for broadband Internet access. Naturally, their stance has drawn criticism and accusations that it is setting a low bar for the definition of broadband, especially for certain public usage.