Statistics that show the U.S. behind many other countries in broadband deployment don't tell the whole story and may not be as important as some critics suggest, a group of broadband experts said Friday.

OECD statistics might give a better picture if they reflected broadband adoption for households, because families often share a connection and the OECD numbers have largely ignored broadband on smartphones and other wireless devices, said panelists at a broadband forum.

David Gross, former coordinator of international communications and information policy at the U.S Department of State called the OECD statistics "deeply flawed," but also acknowledged that the organization is working to improve its broadband reports.

The U.S. leads the world in broadband to schools, he said, and it's the only country now deploying fiber-based broadband outside urban areas. Part of the problem in the U.S., however, is with demand. Of 21 OECD countries with statistics available, the U.S. ranks 11th in PC ownership, Atkinson said, and without PCs, people aren't going to get wired broadband.

One largely ignored segment of broadband providers, both by OECD and by people who complain about not enough competition, are wireless providers, said Christopher Guttman-McCabe, vice president of regulatory affairs at CTIA. The number of U.S. subscribers with broadband access on their smartphones and other devices has grown from 3 million in 2006 to 73 million in 2008, he said. "I do think broadband to the home is being rapidly overtaken by broadband to the person," he said.

said by RadioDoc :

I get "no such article" when I try to vote. Looks like more monkeybusiness...

said by RadioDoc :

I'm due for an upgrade after pummeling my trusty LG for two years. The Pre looks interesting...please report back.