High Speed Internet: Why Feminists Should Care About Access and Advancement

August 20, 2007

What is High Speed Internet?

High speed Internet (also known as broadband) is the process by which large amounts of data—including audio, video and interactive communications—are transmitted to computers and other electronic devices via telephone lines, cable modems, fiber optics and wireless networks. Broadband Internet service connects homes, schools, organizations and businesses with an exciting range of communication possibilities.

New uses for the Internet are being created every day, and many of these applications rely on high speed transmission.

To realize the full potential of the Internet, we need:

• The infrastructure to deliver truly high speed transmissions throughout all areas of the country
• Broadband services that are accessible to people at all income levels
• A national commitment to and a strategic plan for the development and deployment of high speed technology

Is the U.S. a Leader in Promoting High Speed Internet?

The United States does not have a policy promoting high speed Internet access, and it's starting to show. When comparing the percentage of broadband subscribers in major industrialized nations, the U.S. ranks a dismal 16th, behind countries such as Canada, Israel, Japan and Singapore. Our ranking has fallen from 11th in 2002, and we could fall even further behind without a comprehensive strategy for technological advancement.

One of the biggest problems that must be addressed is the U.S.'s definition of what qualifies as "high speed" Internet service. The Federal Communications Commission's definition of high speed as 200 kilobits per second is shockingly low by most standards. To put it in perspective, the highest speed generally available in the U.S. from a cable modem or DSL is 6 megabits per second; that's about 30 times faster than what the FCC calls "high speed". But compared to what's possible, it's a snail's pace -- the highest speed generally available in Japan is a whopping 100 megabits per second (500 times faster than what the FCC calls "high speed"). In order to access interactive features and advanced applications via the Internet, such higher speeds are required.

Combine slow speeds with high cost, and you see why the U.S. is failing in this arena. For example, a DSL connection of 1.5-3.0 megabits (mbps) per second costs an average of $30-50 per month in the U.S., and a cable connection of 3-5 mbps costs $40-50. In Japan, a connection speed of 26 mbps (that's at least five times faster) costs about $22 a month.

Consequently, only 11 percent of U.S. households with incomes below $30,000 subscribe to high speed Internet, while more than 62 percent of households with incomes over $100,000 pay for broadband.

The U.S. must adopt a broadband policy today or the telecommunications revolution will pass us by!

Why is High Speed Internet a Feminist Issue?

During the past decade, the Internet has become an important tool in our business, social and political lives. High speed Internet has the power to further enhance democratic and civic participation, and improve the delivery of education, job training, health care, public safety and other services.

Her are just a few examples of the dynamic functions made possible through high speed connections:

• Political Participation: Government meetings can be opened up to more people through two-way video technology.
• Education: Students can learn from judges and other experts in their fields using two-way video right in their classrooms. Worker training courses can include streaming audio-visual material and sophisticated hands-on tools.
• Medicine: Specialists can be consulted from a distance to help diagnose life-threatening illnesses when every second counts.
• Breaking Down Disability Barriers: Deaf people can access sign language interpreters through video conferencing. Blind people can easily navigate through text that has been converted to audio.
• Breaking Down Geographic Barriers: People in rural communities can access services from a great distance and promote their goods to a larger market.
• Safety: Police, fire and emergency services can be greatly enhanced, allowing public safety and first responders to share voice and video information quickly and across jurisdictions.
• Speaking Out: Organizations like NOW and individual activists can get our message out via the Internet at relatively low cost compared to other media. With high speed Internet, the complexity, creativity and distribution of our message can be greatly amplified. And two-way connections can help leaders and activists organize from across the country and even the world.

The larger point cannot be stressed enough: Women's lives improve as their access to information, education, and political participation grows. High speed Internet can open new worlds to women, but only if the technology is fully developed and made accessible to all.

Take Action NOW! Contact your senators and urge them to support the Broadband Data Improvement Act (S.1492). A comparable bill is still being drafted in the House of Representatives, but it's not too soon to urge your representative to support measures that promote high speed Internet access.

Thanks to the Communications Workers of America (CWA) for contributing information to this report. After writing to your members of Congress, take CWA's Speed Matters Test to see how your Internet connection compares with others in your area and around the world.