Wednesday, August 27, 2008
KU students enjoy free high-speed Internet access in most buildings on campus and in their residences, yet when students move out of Lawrence, it’s unlikely they will have this technology at their fingertips.
Few U.S. cities currently offer free high-speed Internet, but Democrats hope to change that if Barack Obama is elected. U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) stressed on Tuesday morning the importance of creating the infrastructure to provide high-speed Internet, or broadband, to every home in America at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
“I have watched as the United States went from world leader to lagger in the world broadband ranks. I am embarrassed,” Rockefeller told the audience.
Rockefeller said the U.S. had dropped from first to 15th among countries with the best Internet access, listed behind countries such as Denmark, Iceland and Sweden.
He said the size and complex geography of the U.S. was partially to blame for the Bush administration’s failure to provide broadband access to all Americans by 2007, but he also said that was no longer a good excuse.
“It has to be done,” Rockefeller said.
Rockefeller said if private companies and the government were able to negotiate a way to provide broadband access to every school and workplace like they did with the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the two should be able to provide the same service to private citizens.
Larry Irving, president and CEO of the Irving Information Group, a consulting firm for telecommunications and information technology companies, said the government needed to take the initiative even further and provide free wireless Internet access to all U.S. residents. Irving said only one in 30 people had wireless Internet at home.
Wireless Internet is only one form of broadband. Broadband also includes Ethernet and DSL and is faster than lower-speed Internet access, such dial-up.
Michael Katz, former chief economist of the Federal Communications Commission, said data ranking the U.S. as 15th was skewed, and that the U.S. actually ranked eighth in the world.
“I don’t want to be eighth at anything in life,” Irving replied. “I don’t think eighth got a bronze, silver or gold.”
Katz also said widespread broadband access would be too expensive.
“Yes, broadband access for everyone would be great, but let’s look at the cost,” Katz said.
Irving said the reason broadband Internet technology was not at the forefront of policy-making in the U.S. was because it was not a “sexy issue.”
He said he thought it should be a top government priority, though, because applications such as Google Maps and Pandora, an internet radio program, can be accessed on cell phones using broadband Internet.
— —Edited by Mary Sorrick
Google picks Kansas City for ultra-fast network
Google said its new broadband network will make Internet access 100 times ...
Lawrence Freenet offers wireless plan to KU
Lawrence Freenet recently offered free wireless Internet and improved tech support to ...
Cable competition increasing across Lawrence
AT&T U-Verse is becoming more widely available and Sunflower Broadband is introducing ...
Internet provider appeals to city
A Lawrence businessman claims he was left out of bidding process for ...
Wireless Internet hits residence halls
The first phase of Information Services’ plan to add wireless access to ...
Lawrence looks to add Fiber to Internet ...
The city encourages residents to help in its bid to participate in ...
Adams: Government must do more to improve ...
The job market is open in the world of cyber security.
Editorial: Campus Internet provider Apogee disappointing so ...
Students are complaining, and Internet accessibility is waning.
3G network hits local service providers
Lawrence customers should notice faster Internet on their wireless phones, but speedier ...
Freenet moves from the web to television
Company plans to expand its business to compete with other media service ...
University intent on improving wireless internet
The University's IT department will also look to offer Blackboard technology support ...
Internet group wants to supply Downtown Lawrence ...
Improving Internet on campus
The University’s chosen provider, Apogee, works to respond to students’ issues with ...
Lawrence Freenet offers to create free wireless ...
The non-profit organization Lawrence Freenet has offered to donate $750,000 to help ...
Anchutz library upgrades to faster wireless Internet
Anschutz Library now has faster and more reliable wireless internet.
Editorial: University needs to rethink wireless services
Other in state schools like K-State have better wireless coverage. KU needs ...
Wireless access, coming to you
Students can look for to more access to wireless Internet on campus. ...
IT officials work on network problems
Students can expect faster login times, wireless Internet after winter break.
Lawrence cable company sold in multimillion dollar ...
The sale of Sunflower Broadband is not expected to affect prices.
McCollum lobby goes wireless
The University nears completion with its plan to provide wireless Internet to ...
CITIZEN DOLPH: A rare look at the ...
You may not recognize his name, but Dolph Simons Jr., chairman of ...
Land lines losing to costly smart phones
Although smart phones are expensive, sales are increasing, leaving land lines losing ...
Daschle speaks on current issues
Tablets given away to engineering students
VP of Google Maps and Google Earth and a Kansas electrical engineering ...
KU and Baghdad students discuss Iraq
Video conference allows panels from Middle East and Midwest universities to talk ...
Senate coalitions face off on technology platform
KUnited and RenewKU state their position and promises for improving technology aspects ...
Four more buildings go wireless on campus
Student Senate surveyed campus and students to decide the buildings to make ...
ResNet moves to Burge Union
Over winter break, Resnet moved their location from McCollum Hall to the ...
Anschutz plans to fix login problems
After several student complaints about the slow network, KU Information Technology officials ...
Dorm residents give Apogee mixed reviews
Apogee is the main Internet service provider for KU Residence Halls.
Marvin: Bandwidth limits hurt Web growth
Sunflower Broadband is holding back customers from optimal Internet.
Student Voice wants wireless residence halls
KU works on improving cell phone signals
The potential plan with phone carriers could help eliminate dead zones and ...
Internet blackout protests legislation
Thousands of websites join together to fight potentially-restricting Internet bills.
KU student to represent Obama at national ...
Unger is one of three students from the state who will serve ...
Wireless Internet threatens network
Several illegal wireless hubs have been detected in University of Kansas residence ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID