I am really frustrated with my broadband provider Comcast with the constant packet drops and slow network speed.

This is sad but true. When I was traveling in Asia last year, I had much better broadband experience (in terms of both response time and reliability) in Singapore and South Korea than I have with Comcast in Cambridge. Of course, that claim is purely anecdotal. However, a study released last year by CWA supports my claim. And now, I discovered that America is lagging behind Europe in broadband penetration. A faster, higher quality broadband is needed for the fostering of new Internet businesses and technologies as well as the diffusion of new innovations and standards like IPTV. But America seems to be consistently ranked relatively low among developed nations in speed, quality, and penetration. Why is that so? First, I believe that there is simply too little competition in the America broadband market. Other than Comcast, my only other choice is Verizon. Quite frankly, I don't think the "let the market decide" strategy is working. If consumers are faced with a limited choice of broadband providers, at least there should be a national policy that mandates higher quality lines to improve the current sad state of the broadband market. But as Doug Levin says, such strategy would be deemed "undemocratic and un-American" by many. Sadly, I think the broadband market will continue to be plagued by high prices, low speed, and poor service.

3/21/2008 10:40:33 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

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