Sputnik moment... call to action for national US broadband policy

Ben Piper of Strategy Analytics has derided Internet connectivity in the US, describing it as "outpaced by other developed nations in terms of broadband deployment, penetration, availability and affordability". He appears to be gifted in framing his assertions by raising the spectre of the Russian Sputnik initiative in 1957 which spurred the US to engage proactively in the space race.

In his report's accompanying press release, Ben is quoted as saying: "Through inertia, complacency and false security, the United States was late out of the broadband starting gate, and has barely begun the game of catch up.... The issue transcends one of simple national pride -- the enormous economic and social effects of broadband warrant immediate action."

Given other "enormous economic" concerns in the US right now, I wonder if his report will reach its intended orbit.

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1. At 23 Oct 2008 21:16, Dave Birch wrote:

I think that a rational response to current circumstances might well include government subsidy to extend competitive high-speed broadband. The "New Deal" built dams and interstate highways: well, broadband is the 21st century equivalent of that interstate highway, isn't it?

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