According to a recent CNET News article by Marguerite Reardon, panelists at the Supercomm 2009 Tradeshow discussed a problem facing U.S. policy makers and service providers as they work to bring broadband access to every American – despite high accessibility rates, adoption rates remain low.
Figures released by the FCC last month in a status report state that approximately 96 percent of American households have access to broadband service from at least one service provider. Of those people, however, about 33 percent do not subscribe to broadband. Internet service providers have put the infrastructure in place, but the consumers will not come. Why is this the case?
The FCC is currently conducting a study to try to answer this question. The results of the FCC’s study could be key in the Commission’s development of the pending National Broadband Plan, which will be presented to Congress in February and will outline how the government can reach the goal of broadband access for all.
