Rhode Island Receives Top Marks for Internet Speed
Related Media Coverage and Links
August 25, 2008 | Print this page | Share This | Email this page
In the recently published 2008 “A Report on Internet Speeds in All 50 States” by Speed Matters, Rhode Island ranked number one in the nation in download speed for the second year in a row. According to the report, Rhode Island has the fastest median download speed with 6.8 Mbps. Rhode Island’s ranking is an impressive achievement given that it is the smallest state in the nation.
The report ranks the United States 15th overall amongst other industrialized nations in the percentage of the population connecting to broadband. The report found that the United States actually lags behind the rest of the world in improving connection speed.
The report demonstrated the need for increased high speed internet access and that improving access should be a national priority. The important role broadband plays in economic health and prosperity are widely accepted and a major factor in achieving the networks required to create and sustain a 21st century workforce.
High speed Internet access is needed in almost all industries, especially in areas such as medicine, safety, rural development, education and a key driver of innovation. The report called for governmental action and private /public partnerships in order to increase broadband investment and adoption.
