Bush calls for universal broadband...
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| Sun, 03-28-2004 - 5:51pm |
IMHO, the most telling thing as that he doesn't say how this will be paid for (nothing new, huh?)...ALBUQUERQUE - Reaching back to revive an idea promoted by the man he beat for the White House, President Bush urged Friday that affordable high-speed Internet access be available to all Americans by 2007, saying it was essential to the nation’s economic growth.
Bush traveled to the Southwest largely to promote home ownership but spoke briefly about Internet access in remarks reminiscent of 2000 Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore’s call for an “information superhighway†available to all Americans.
The president did not say how high-speed access could be extended to all the nation’s homes and businesses, but in an address to Hispanic lawmakers in New Mexico, a state he lost to Gore by just 366 votes four years ago, Bush said a key would be to “make sure that as soon as possible thereafter consumers have plenty of choices.â€
There is already a fund that subsidizes telephone service in rural areas and for those who cannot afford it. Policymakers have debated whether the Universal Service Fund should also subsidize Internet access to U.S. homes.
Democrats, including Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Bush’s presumed Democratic opponent in November, accused Bush in a letter last month of failing to implement a “national broadband policy.†About 20.6 million homes and small businesses subscribed to high-speed Internet service as of last June, the latest data available from the Federal Communications Commission.
Telephone companies that dominate a market have to share their networks with rivals for telephone service, and there have been extensive debates about whether those rules should apply to broadband.
Cable companies do not presently have to share their networks with rivals but some allow subscribers to have an alternative Internet service provider. More consumers have signed up for the broadband from cable companies, with about 13.7 million lines compared to 7.7 million using telephone companies’ digital subscriber line (DSL) service
cl-nwtreehugger
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Eventually the US will have universal broadband, it is just a matter of time.
The world is another question entirely. The connections are being established. I haven't been anywhere there wasn't a "Internet Cafe". And they are usually very busy because connection is so expensive. Again demand will push for supply.
I think we should tell Bush to do his dreaming at night.
Hypocracy is so funny.
LOL!
No. Both can be done. I think high speed communication is important for everyone, especially for the less fortunate who have no opportunity to keep up with the IT boom (I thought you left-wingers are champions of the poor?).
<<..we're not asking the government to pay for those cars, we're asking the government to pass standards that require the auto makers to use the technology that they already have available ...>>
The same could be said for a Broadband revolution, don't cha think?
Wasn't such a funny notion afterall, was it?
Hypocracy is so funny.
What is funny is how wrong that statement is.
James
janderson_ny@yahoo.com
CL Ask A Guy
I think high speed communication is important for everyone, especially for the less fortunate who have no opportunity to keep up with the IT boom (I thought you left-wingers are champions of the poor?).
I agree that everyone should have access but does that mean high-speed broadband DSL service?