Sen. John Kerry Calls for Federal Intervention for Regions Without High Speed Internet
Speed Matters, May 8, 2008
During a meeting of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Senator John Kerry used Massachusetts as an example of the continuing problem of the digital divide. According to Sen. Kerry, only about 46 percent of Massachusetts is connected to high speed Internet – which is the fourth best rate in the country. Despite President Bush's promise of universal high speed access by 2007, many communities remain without it. The solution to connecting everyone, according to Kerry, lies in a nationwide plan to ensure the entire country has access to high speed Internet.
"Where is the plan?" said Kerry. "Where is the sense of urgency? Entire swaths of this country, including most of the western part of Massachusetts, have little or no access to broadband service. Eight years into the 21st century, more than half of Americans have either no Internet access at all or are still using dial-up. "We need a national broadband strategy to encourage economic competitiveness in a global marketplace."
Sen. Kerry is right. As the only industrialized nation without a plan for universal high speed Internet access, it is not a surprise that we are falling behind, leaving less than half the citizens of states like Massachusetts connected to high speed Internet. We need a plan, and we need it now.
Links
Kerry fights for Internet connection in Western Massachusetts (MassLive.com)
Still waiting in Western Massachusetts (Speed Matters)
Need for national policy (Speed Matters)
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