WASHINGTON, DC – Internet download speeds in the U.S. lag those of many other nations, according to a study by the Communications Workers of America.

The CWA checked the download speeds 230,000 Internet users who participated in an online test.

It found that the median download speed in the U.S. is 2.3 megabits per second (mps).

In Japan it is 63 mps, and in South Korea, 49 mps and in France, 17 mps.

This means that a media file that would download in four minutes in South Korea would require an hour and a half in the U.S.

CWA President Larry Cohen said, “”Speed matters to our economy and our ability to remain competitive in a global marketplace. Rural development, telemedicine and distance learning all rely on truly high-speed, universal networks.”

In 2006, the CWA launched a Speed Matters campaign to convince Congress to pass an updated telecommunications policy.

On the Web: www.speedmatters.org/

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