Monday, October 17, 2005

have some freedom fries with that slow and expensive broadband: Salon on the pitiful state of broadband connectivity in the US. (Via tingilinde.) One often reads articles in the US press, especially the business press, about how fossilized social and political arrangements supposedly stifle economic growth in countries like Germany and Japan. Curiously, one does not read that many articles on how fossilized schools, health care, telecommunications, energy, and other infrastructure may be doing the same for the US, only masked by the pretend economic GDP growth generated by foreign borrowing, real-estate speculation, and non-productive work required to negotiate those increasingly inefficient systems. 11:00:58 PM

Wanadoo ups basic broadband speed: Wanadoo is the latest big net firm to start offering faster broadband access of 8Mbps as standard. (Via BBC News | News Front Page | World Edition.) For 17.99 pounds = $31.45. The best I can get in Philadelphia is 6 Mbps for $69.95 (Speakeasy). So much for the unique competitiveness of the US business environment. Don't even get me started on the ILEC's pricing plans (Verizon), which are even more opaque than your typical cellphone plan. 9:51:54 AM