Only five years ago, the United States was the leader in the use of the Internet but now, that place has been taken over by Japan and increasingly by China. the implications are tremendous, since broadband internet will form the basis of economic prosperity for the next decade or more. The Clinton/Gore administration moved the US to the forefront with their Internet Infrastructure Initiative, but the current administration dropped the ball, and the price will be high. The US is now the only advanced country in the world without a broadband infrastructure policy. Lets hope someone picks up the ball and starts running. In Canada too.Foreign Affairs - Down to the Wire - Thomas Bleha