Americans like to think that they live in the best country in the world -- and that everything in this country is better than anywhere else. Of course, that is not true. Now we learn that even though the U.S. is one of the most computer-oriented countries, it lags behind several others in average internet speed -- an issue that is very important in this modern world.
In fact, the United States is no better than 9th in average internet speed. South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Sweden all have higher average internet speeds. The U.S. was 8th last year, but has since been passed by Sweden.
Is this acceptable in our computer-oriented society? Would it be acceptable to slide even further down the list? Why is this happening? Aren't our communications company just as capable of providing high speed service as those in other countries?
The problem is pricing. The American companies have priced high internet speed out of the reach of many Americans (especially those with low-wage jobs or who are unemployed). Just compare some U.S. prices to those in other countries. Comcast will provide 305 Mbps (megabits per second), but they want $320 a month to do so. Verizon will provide 500 Mbps, but want consumers to pay $301 a month to get it.
Prices are much lower elsewhere. In Hong Kong, a consumer can get 500 Mbps service for only $25 a month -- and in Japan, a 2 Gbps service costs only $51 a month.
I'm sure some of you are thinking that's just the price we pay for having a free enterprise (capitalist) system. That idea doesn't ring true. Don't Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and the Netherlands also have free enterprise systems? Why aren't their prices also outrageously high?
The truth is that our government has made a decision -- that allowing communications companies to make outrageous profits is more important than assuring all Americans have the best internet connections and speed. Other countries have decided differently. I think our government made the wrong decision. What do you think?
It's not just internet speeds...Central America (El Salvador, Costa Rica, Belize, etc.) has better cell phone service than I do in Jackson, MS or that my son does in Galveston, TX. That's really stupid.
ReplyDeleteCanada is even worse. Highest internet and cell phone prices in the world - and some of the worst service and slowest speeds. There is no competition, so the 4 big companies in Canada get to set whatever price they want.
ReplyDeleteAmerica is so far behind so many in so many ways that the saying 'America the fastest growing into a 3rd world country' is neither funny or false.
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