[BC] USA drops in broadband

[Dana Puopolo]

Once again., the USA drops in broadband penetration...the fourth time in four
years. It's noce to see that we still show leadreship (not!).

"The OECD today released broadband statistics through December 2006 that show
the United States has dropped further in the global rankings, though we still
have the most overall broadband subscribers among OECD countries. Some key
findings from the report:
European countries have continued their advance with high broadband
penetration rates.
Denmark and the Netherlands are the first two countries in the OECD to surpass
30 subscribers per 100 inhabitants.
The strongest per-capita subscriber growth over the year comes from Denmark,
the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Ireland. Each country added more than 5.8
subscribers per 100 inhabitants during the past year.
Fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) subscriptions now comprise nearly 7% of all broadband
connections in the OECD and the percentage is growing.
Korea and Japan each have more than 6 fiber broadband subscribers per 100
inhabitants.
Japan leads the OECD in fibre connections directly to the home with 7.9
million fibre-to-the-home subscribers in December 2006. Fibre subscribers
alone in Japan outnumber total broadband subscribers in 23 of the 30 OECD
countries.
The total number of ADSL subscriptions continues to fall in Korea and Japan as
more users upgrade to fibre-based connections.
DSL continues to be the leading platform in 28 OECD countries. Cable modem
subscribers outnumber DSL in Canada and the United States.
The United States has the largest total number of broadband subscribers in the
OECD at 58.1 million. US broadband subscribers now represent 29% of all
broadband connections in the OECD, down from 30% in June 2006.
Canada continues to lead the G7 group of industrialized countries in broadband
penetration
DSL makes up 62% of the OECD rankings to cable's 29% and FTTH's 7%
The Free Press wins the prize for being the first organization of many who'll
lament the showing and once again call for some kind of national broadband
policy."