Why Is U.S. Internet Speed Slow?

On March 6, 2014 Crooks and Liars political blog published an article titled “Why IsU.S. Internet Speed Slower Than Estonia’s? ” The article is about Internet speed and general telecommunication issues. The author, Susie Madrak, sees a problem in market monopolization, where big companies like Comcast and Time Warner have divided up markets and put themselves in a position where no competition left. And above, they continuously charge customers higher and higher without investment in improving internet technology. Market is not open to completion and it is hard for new competitor to pass barriers to entry.

Author’s argument credibility is accurate and she provides wide evidence of it: “the U.S. ranks a shocking 31^st in the world in terms of average speeds of 20.77 Mbps. The leaders in the world are Hong Kong 72.49 Mbps and Singapore on 58.84 Mbps.  Its upload speeds are even worse, globally, the U.S. ranks 42^nd with an average upload speed of 6.31 Mbps.” She talks about Korean market organization and being controlled by government. In Korea, the country with the world fastest connections, government furnished with fiber optic cable nationwide under $20 per month.

Susan Madrak's purpose is to demonstrate that dominant companies have obtained the telecommunication market to present to the American people second quality Internet access while the rest of the world leaps ahead.

I absolutely agree with the article. The unknown fact is how government has allowed a few powerful media giants to put profit ahead of the public interest. These titans manipulate the rules, raising prices, and stifling competition. In my opinion, USA has an opportunity to adopt the new wireless technologies and let new invention produce high class speed access.  The fiber is the proper way to go but US cell phone and cable monopolies have no reason to update.