How does the U.S. stack up against other countries in high’speed internet? Not very well, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The inventory wouldn’t cover other countries, but a cursory look shows the U.S. lagging behind at least some of them. In South Korea, for instance, the average apartment can get an Internet connection that’s 15 times faster than a typical U.S. connection. In Paris, a “triple play” of TV, phone and broadband service costs less than half of what it does in the U.S.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development - a 30-member club of nations - compiles the most often cited international comparison. It puts the U.S. at 15th place for broadband lines per person in 2006, down from No. 4 in 2001.

The article points out that the OECD is often vigorously attacked by anti-regulation think tanks. What the hell is an anti-regulation think tank anyway? How does one become a member of one of these? WHY would anyone want to? Do these people not have anything better to do with their time?

War, disease and poverty abounds. Thank God for the anti-regulation think tank!