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0 pointssandstrom11y ago0 comments

I find it interesting that broadband is so expensive in the US compared to many other countries.

Population density is sometimes pointed to. It may be, but I also know that even many of the most rural parts of Norway and Sweden broadband [fiber] is prevalent.

I would guess competition (and less lobbying) would improve things. Perhaps Google Fiber can shake things up.

- http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24528383

- http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/08/07/reviewed-high-...

- http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/10/the-broadband-gap-w...

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rayiner11y ago

The U.S. is not far behind Sweden in global average connection speeds: http://www.akamai.com/dl/akamai/akamai-soti-q413.pdf?WT.mc_i... (Page 19, Figure 20).

Sweden directly subsidized deployment of fiber in rural areas: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/the-broadband-gap-w.... It also required municipalities to build certain infrastructure, which is something the U.S. federal government lacks the power to do.

jessaustin11y ago

Sweden directly subsidized deployment of fiber...

Yeah, so did USA. The only difference was that Sweden actually got the fiber they subsidized. We've been over this before.

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