How would the world be different, if the government had built the faster AOL or Comcast like service? What's a comparable example of government consumable technology infrastructure that's sound? I can't think of one.

And what would be the point of writing this story? Do people have less access to the Internet today than 8 years ago? Are Internet slower than 8 years ago? If Internet was faster, how would "U.S. that can support consumers as well as first responders and anti-terrorist teams." be different? Can't people pick up a phone and call? Is phone a low tech? Do we want citizens to text message or email their concerns? is Text message or Email better than the phone call? if we had 10gbit internet, would email/text message go faster?

I don't know who Matt Hamblen is... But, it seems that this is not only this is a none story but.. I don't know.. people get paid to write something like this at CIO?

While I agree that the FCC has failed in their strategy of deploying broadband throughout the US, it clearly is not an issue of lack of money. Over $6 billion per year is flowing through the FCC in the form of universal services fees that every American pays on their telephone bills. That’s $6 billion (with a “B”) in this program alone that could be used to make broadband available (at a competitive cost) to all Americans regardless of where they live. That doesn’t even touch on the money that is flowing through government programs (like USDA and others) to encourage communities to enhance broadband access.

I agree with the author. This and past administrations have been incompetent and have neglected the American people in favor of the big telcos who are profiting in a big way under the current scheme. The administrations’ approach is to throw money against the broadband wall and hope that it sticks. Very little of it sticks and leads to real advancement. Most of it lands on the floor and is swept up by the telcos to enhance their bottom lines.