The Communications Workers of America released their initial (small) data sample revealing the molasses-slow pace of U.S. broadband connectivity.

And tech-savvy, forward-thinking California clocks slower-than-average speeds.

Blaming your new AT&T or Time-Warner or Verizon or Al Gore simply isn't going to fix the Internet, the union warns. Even Canada ranks significantly higher in broadband speeds. Take the speed test, play with the interactive data, or grab the PDF.

Hmm. Maybe if we just just collectively agree to not eat foie gras or spank kids or even so much as think about bong hits 4 Jesus, the gov't could legislate something worthwhile. Just sayin'.

As the rest of the world ramps up broadband speeds and penetration, the U.S. (and notably California) continues to slide into the digital stone age. Ideally, the standard definition of broadband speed should be increased from a 200kbps crawl to 2Mbps (both down and up, preferably).

Courses of action here, here, and here. Or ask your local official what he/she is doing to to fulfill Gov. Schwarzenegger's 2006 Executive Order imploring California to be the "leader in telecommunications revolution."