The United States continues to decline compared to the rest of the world as regards high-speed Internet penetration. In 2001, the US ranked fourth in the world. Now it is ranked 15th- and falling. More disturbing is the fact that other countries are accelerating their implantation of broadband services while the US is losing ground. The Internet, especially access to hi speed (or broadband) Internet is widely recognized as key to further economic development.
However, it appears that this decline and what to do about it has attracted the attention of the Democratic candidates as they campaign in Iowa.
According to the Pew Research Center, the lower Midwest, including the state of Iowa, has the lowest penetration of Internet, especially Hi speed Internet of any region except the South. The Communication Workers of America (CWA) has led the movement to put the issue of Hi Speed Internet into the campaign dialogue. So far, their "Speed Matters" campaign has had some success.
Six Democratic presidential candidates have now have included the "Speed Matters" campaign in their public policy proposals. The "Speed Matters" campaign calls for a rapid rollout of true high-speed Internet networks in Iowa-and elsewhere. The candidates realize that this issue resonates with the public, especially in rural areas. CWA research supports the view that three quarters of the public believes telecom and cable companies should be required to provide access to high-speed service throughout their service areas including rural and low-income areas. The public cites access to telemedicine, education/research for kids, state of the art communications for first responders among reasons that high-speed broadband is vital. PEW Research also indicates that the ability to work from home is tied directly to access to high speed Internet.
Democratic presidential candidates Joseph Biden, Hillary Clinton, Christopher Dodd, and Bill Richardson told Iowans of the critical importance of CWA's "Speed Matters" initiative during campaign events.
At Marshalltown Community College, Biden said CWA's campaign to improve the quality, affordability, and availability of high-speed broadband service played a vital role in education as students rely more and more upon access to the Internet as part of their studies. At a hospital in West Burlington, Clinton spoke of the critical role high-speed Internet had in health care. In Ames, Dodd cited the importance of broadband to job creation and economic development in rural communities. Richardson, appearing in Marshalltown, spoke of how he, as New Mexico's governor, launched "Wire New Mexico" project to create a statewide high-speed, high capacity data, voice and communications system.
Candidates John Edwards and Barack Obama endorsed CWA's campaign earlier in campaign stops in Iowa. Visit www.cwa-union.org/source, CWA's website for communicators, to view pictures and videos of the candidates addressing Speed Matters.
Meanwhile, the Republicans at their Wednesday night debate talked about torture, limiting women’s rights to choose, and guns and outdid themselves as pro war candidates. No discussion took place regarding the decline in America’s infrastructure.
The Republican attitude is in keeping with the Bush administration’s continuing efforts to undermine the economic health of the country.
Bob Kutner is his new book "Squandering America" makes the point well. Kutner describes the destruction of America’s industrial base and the dominance of speculative capital. He contrasted the current administration policies with those of Dwight D Eisenhower. Eisenhower championed and congress paid for the Interstate highway system- the transportation network which transformed America. Hi-speed internet holds the same promise regarding economic development- with the added attraction that it functions without huge transportation expenses (oil). People can live in small communities all over this country and still work collectively.
The House recently passed CWA-backed legislation calling for nationwide mapping of broadband speeds and access and the Senate is expected to act shortly on a similar bill.