The FCC's Broadband Bobble

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THE FCC'S BROADBAND BOBBLE
[SOURCE: BusinessWeek, AUTHOR: Tom Lowry]
[Commentary] Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin could have taken a much larger role in helping the U.S. catch up with other countries when it comes to the all-important issue of broadband access. After all, it was his boss, President George W. Bush, who in 2004 called for universal broadband for all Americans by 2007. As 2007 draws to a close, the figure is only about 50%. The U.S. has fallen further behind in global broadband. The latest rankings by the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development show the U.S. at 15 in terms of broadband penetration—down from 4 in 2000. Average speeds in Japan are 20 times faster than in the U.S., and South Koreans pay nine times less per megabit than Americans do. Chairman Martin should have started regularly collecting accurate data about penetration; speeds; and which communities, minority and rural, for example, lack affordable services. He may leave with the change of Administration next year. In January the FCC will conduct the biggest auction ever of wireless spectrum, which Martin says will transform broadband in the U.S. Even so, Bush's deadline will have come and gone.
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