Comments on: U.S. broadband A-OK

It's hip to fret about the need for a "national broadband policy," but CNET News.com's Declan McCullagh wonders if the U.S. is really doing so badly.

It's the service...

Fat,slow and happy isn't a recipe for broadband competitiveness. Is it really okay for the U.S. to cede its broadband leadership to other countries just because we're a big nation?

If you're like most people you don't think you need broadband until you try it and become addicted instantly. Razor sharp customer service, brutal price competition and the existence hundreds of Internet service providers convinced the masses to welcome dial-up Internet into their homes.

All three of those factors are absent from today's broadband market.

I refuse to believe that polite competition between behmoths will get the job done. Oligopolies are the clogged drains of capitalism. Until we get a few NetZero-style kamikazis in the U.S. broadband market, fat, slow and happy we'll stay.

It's the service...

Fat,slow and happy isn't a recipe for broadband competitiveness. Is it really okay for the U.S. to cede its broadband leadership to other countries just because we're a big nation?

If you're like most people you don't think you need broadband until you try it and become addicted instantly. Razor sharp customer service, brutal price competition and the existence hundreds of Internet service providers convinced the masses to welcome dial-up Internet into their homes.

All three of those factors are absent from today's broadband market.

I refuse to believe that polite competition between behmoths will get the job done. Oligopolies are the clogged drains of capitalism. Until we get a few NetZero-style kamikazis in the U.S. broadband market, fat, slow and happy we'll stay.

[ggore]

Broadband's astronomical cost

Evidently 99.3% of the US population lives within 4 miles of an interstate highway, because being one of the .7% of the population that doesn't and being a cable modem service provider in Oklahoma, I can say that the cost of a T1 line is astonomical for us. 35 miles south of here and along I-40, the cost of a T1 line is $350/month. Here it costs $993.95/month. Hence the high price I have to charge my customers for service. With the millions of miles of unused fiber just lying in the ground, you'd think the cost would be lower, but it's not.

[volterwd]

yep

people in rural communities are screwed... but hey why do they need to live in big houses on absurdly sized lots with wide streets is beyond me... anyways people in the burbs should be able to afford the added cost... but lets face it... cost isnt the issue with broadband penetration, if the government wanted more bandwidth/penetration they would have it... but they are ***************** of the corporate giants

[ggore]

Broadband's astronomical cost

Evidently 99.3% of the US population lives within 4 miles of an interstate highway, because being one of the .7% of the population that doesn't and being a cable modem service provider in Oklahoma, I can say that the cost of a T1 line is astonomical for us. 35 miles south of here and along I-40, the cost of a T1 line is $350/month. Here it costs $993.95/month. Hence the high price I have to charge my customers for service. With the millions of miles of unused fiber just lying in the ground, you'd think the cost would be lower, but it's not.

[volterwd]

yep

people in rural communities are screwed... but hey why do they need to live in big houses on absurdly sized lots with wide streets is beyond me... anyways people in the burbs should be able to afford the added cost... but lets face it... cost isnt the issue with broadband penetration, if the government wanted more bandwidth/penetration they would have it... but they are ***************** of the corporate giants

[volterwd]

Broadband penetration isnt sufficient

the rate is a bad indicator because it does not mention that not only does korea have a higher penetration rate but the bandwidth available is significantly higher

[volterwd]

Broadband penetration isnt sufficient

the rate is a bad indicator because it does not mention that not only does korea have a higher penetration rate but the bandwidth available is significantly higher