Sci/Tech It’s Time to Fix the Pitifully Slow, Expensive Internet Access in the U.S.

[tom_mai78101]

One of the core issues being debated in Dubai right now is whether governments should be encouraged to mandate deep-packet inspection standards that make it easy for telcos to charge for and monitor internet communications crossing national borders. The U.S. government has taken on the fight against such an international norm in a bipartisan fashion, which is good news.

But while our government representatives in Dubai discuss global internet access, it’s worth considering some of the access limitations on our own soil.

Here are the facts: Approximately 19 million Americans can’t subscribe to high-speed internet access because they live in areas that private companies believe are too expensive to serve. Internet access is still very expensive compared to the rest of the developed world – a third of Americans don’t or can’t subscribe.

Internet access in America remains relatively slow – particularly when it comes to upload speeds, the very feature necessary for cloud computing and creating user-generated content. Cable companies dominate wired internet access and face no real competition or pricing pressure; telcos like Verizon and AT&T have retreated to wireless, which will never be a full substitute for wired capacity; and we still have no plan for a nation-wide upgrade to fiber.

It's Time to Fix the Pitifully Slow, Expensive Internet Access in the U.S.

While our government representatives in Dubai discuss global internet access, it’s worth considering some of the access limitations on our own soil. Internet access is still very expensive compared to the rest of the developed world – a third of Americans don't or can’t subscribe.

www.wired.com

 

[Slapshot136]

just curious, are there any countries with nation-wide fiber, or plans for it?

 

[TFlan]

Not "nation-wide", but Europe does not live as rural as the US does. It is very expensive to lay out communication lines throughout the United States, whereas in Europe populations are more centralized making access cheaper

 

[tom_mai78101]

The countries I know that may have nation-wide fiber are Japan and South Korea. There aren't any other countries where their cities are more like "cyberpunk cities".

 

[The Helper]

Waiting patiently for Google Fiber

 

[tom_mai78101]

Give or take 3 more years.