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It’s hard to follow broadband policy without hearing almost weekly that the U.S. ranks 15th out of 30 OECD nations in broadband penetration. But understanding why the U.S. is behind is much harder. In a major new report, entitled Explaining International Broadband Leadership, that examines OECD nations through in-depth case studies and statistical analysis, ITIF attempts to do just that. We invite you to a release event to learn about the report’s results, and to answer key questions, including:

• Why is the United States ranked 15th among 30 OECD nations in broadband take-up and why are nations like Korea, Japan and Sweden ranked so highly?

• How much of our lagging performance has to do with policy factors? How much with non-policy factors?

• Is the perfect broadband policy model overseas, just waiting for us to adopt it lock, stock and barrel?

• What, if anything, can we learn about broadband policy from other nations?

• What should the United States do to boost our broadband performance?

Date: Thursday, May 1, 2008
Time: 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Place: The National Press Club (map and directions)
529 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20045

Participants

Presenter:

Robert Atkinson (bio)
President, ITIF

Respondents:

Tom Bleha
Journalist and author of “Down to the Wire,” article in Foreign Affairs about the Japanese broadband success story

Magnus Härviden
Counselor, Science and Technology, Embassy of Sweden

Event Audio and Video

Link to Google Video

Download audio (MP3)

Related Links

"Explaining International Broadband Leadership"
May 1, 2008
ITIF report released at this event examining broadband policies in 9 nations.

"Framing a National Broadband Policy"
January 18, 2008
ITIF report demonstrating just how far the U.S. has fallen behind, and outlining the economic rationale for a national broadband strategy, showing why the market alone will not generate the societally optimal level of broadband in the foreseeable future.

"The Role of Competition in a National Broadband Policy"
January 18, 2008
ITIF report finding that policymakers need to balance the desire for more competition to enhance consumer welfare in the broadband realm with the need for the most efficient broadband industry structure.

C-SPAN’s The Communicators: Broadband Internet Access
July 7, 2007
ITIF President Robert Atkinson and Scott Wallsten of Progress and Freedom Foundation discuss broadband on C-SPAN’s new show, The Communicators. Click the link for streaming video (RealPlayer). Download Realplayer.

"ITIF Debate: Is the United States Falling Behind in Broadband?"
June 15, 2007
See video, presentation slides, and other details from recent ITIF Debate.

"Broadband Blues"
June 4, 2007
Rob Atkinson’s Huffington Post blog entry outlining the need for proactive broadband policies to address America’s lagging broadband.

"Assessing Broadband in America: OECD and ITIF Broadband Rankings"
April 24, 2007
An examination of international broadband rankings, including the ITIF Broadband Rankings, which measure penetration, price and speed. The report also outlines several steps policymakers should take to reach the goal of high-speed ubiquitous broadband.