Obama win means broadband expansion

The presidential election of Barack Obama should mean expanded broadband access across the United States--a pledge made during the long election campaign by the Democratic victor and also by his losing, Republican opponent John McCain. Obama set a goal that every American should have broadband access "no matter where they live, no matter how much money they have or do not have."

While laudable, providing universal access to high-speed Internet will be difficult technically and politically. It will also be expensive, at a time when money is in short supply given the current economic crisis and a growing budget deficit.

"We are such a big country that trying to build the infrastructure to do this, including using satellite and wireless, is enormously expensive. Also, we have major issues such as the credit crunch and health care, and I do not think this will be a priority," said Kurt Scherf, principle analyst at U.S. technology research firm, Parks Associates.

Parks Associates reports that currently 57 percent or 65 million U.S. households have broadband access.

For more:
 - see this ComputerWeekly.com article

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