Falling U.S. broadband penetration rate called "national embarassment"

Newsweek is out with an article reporting the United States has fallen to 15th place among economically developed nations when it comes to the number of households with broadband Internet access.

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps is quoted as calling the findings by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development a "national embarrassment."

Copps describes the growing gap between America's broadband haves and have nots as the nation's most recent infrastructure challenge and one that demands rapid action.

"Every generation in America has had an infrastructure challenge. And the response has been canals, turnpikes, railroads and the interstates," he told Newsweek. "But in the 21st century, it seems that no one is looking out for us. We're frittering our future away."