Adoption Up, Support for Broadband Plan Down

By Bruce Mehlman

The latest report from the Pew Center finds that nationwide home broadband adoption has increased — from 63 percent last year, to 66 percent so far in 2010. That’s the good news. The bad news, the Washington Post reports, is that support for the FCC’s National Broadband Plan is relatively lackluster:

When asked their views about efforts by the government to provide affordable high-speed Internet access to everyone in the country, 53 percent said the government shouldn’t attempt the effort or that it was “not too important” a priority, according to the Pew Center report. The phone survey of 2,252 adults comes as the Obama Administration and Federal Communications Commission have made it a priority to bring broadband Internet connections that are faster and more affordable to all homes.

Obviously, more needs to be done to educate the public at large that bringing broadband to everyone will benefit America as a whole. Unfortunately, the FCC’s current Title II distractions may be getting in the way of that effort.

The full Home Broadband 2010 report is available at the Pew Internet & American Life Project.