According to the WSJ (subscription req'd), on a per capital basis:
"The U.S. continues to lag behind rich nations in Europe and Asia in adopting high-speed Internet connections, a critical form of technological infrastructure, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The U.S. ranked 12th among industrialized nations, with 16.8 broadband subscribers per 100 inhabitants, as of December, the OECD said. Iceland overtook longtime leader South Korea for the top spot. Countries in Northern Europe filled seven of the top 10 spots, underscoring how the region is leading the way in taking up this pillar of modern infrastructure."
The perception that the US is falling behind technologically will motivate some new activity in Washington. But whether politicians successfully promote high-speed access or not, ultimately we will see near complete coverage of broadband (or at least always-on) access in the US, and all the corresponding consumer behaviors: Internet substitution for some traditional media usage, more time online, more page views, etc.
It's a question of "when" rather than "if."
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Related: The WSJ is also reporting that the Earthlink-Google duo is planning to bid for another muni Wi-Fi gig. Here's the Internet Stock Blog's analysis of the business model prospects.
Om Malik digests a new Forrester report, which says consumers are more concerned about price than speed in their broadband choices.
