A new report for the e-NC Authority developed by the Baller Herbst Law Group (I've interviewed muni-deployment expert Jim Baller several times over the years) argues that in order to remain competitive, the U.S. must have widespread deployment of 100Mbps service by 2012, with 1Gbps service emerging by 2015. Hey if you're going to dream, you might as well dream big (see executive summary and report itself, pdf).

The report notes that while we're slightly behind at the moment (we're number 15 in penetration and 22 in price according to the latest OECD data), we're in real danger of falling flat on our face. The combination of feeble penetration mapping, no over-arching deployment plan and limited deployment of FiOS and DOCSIS 3.0 could spell trouble in an age where broadband is quickly shifting from luxury service to necessary utility.

"Opponents may argue that the United States cannot realistically meet the targets and timetables that we propose, especially in hard-to-reach rural areas," admits the report. "To be sure, our proposed goals are very aggressive and may not be fully achievable. But the United States is losing critical ground every day, and we cannot afford further delays or half measures."

Of course even half-measures would be an epic improvement, considering this country currently has no broadband expansion plan whatsoever. Thanks to a combination of government corruption, dysfunction and industry lobbyist interference, we only just started mapping broadband penetration -- and that's still very much a work in progress. Ubiquitous 100Mbps by 2012? That would require some form of thaumaturgy.