Broadband is like our current energy crisis: Production is set by a tiny cartel that pushes prices high and keeps them there, says Tim Wu, Columbia law professor. "I want to point out how much we pay for bandwidth and how little we get."

Wu spoke at the launch of Internet for Everyone, a campaign pushing for fast, cheap broadband access for everyone nationwide.

The U.S. is slipping compared to other countries when it comes to access to affordable high-speed Internet. The U.S. ranks 22nd when it comes to cost (it’s cheaper in Portugal and Turkey). Broadband penetration dropped from #4 in 2001 to #15 in 2007.

Lawrence Lessig blames the Bush Administration. "This is the first time we've tried to undertake the building of public infrastructure against the Neanderthal philosophy that we don't need government to do it."

But this campaign is beyond partisan. David All, a Republican consultant and founder of Slatecard.com and TechRepublican, says "It's common sense to me why Republicans would want to support this effort." Rural Americans often don't have access to high-speed Internet connection. "Bush got this vote by 64 percent. We've been losing elections by 1, 2, 10 percent. So it concerns me. I want to start winning again."

For a great round up of this launch, click here.

While we discussed our lack of national tech policy, we also had an example from other places. Brazil has been at the forefront in trying to integrate digital technology into civil society. Gilberto Gil, Brazil's minister of culture, talked about the need to look at digital technology as a cultural phenomenon, and at the role of culture in policymaking. He sees digital technology as creating a "peaceful revolution."

But digital technology can be used against society's interest, too, Gil said. "We need to humanize and politicize these technologies, which means thoroughly discuss them and make them available."

Gil said his Culture Ministry has put 700 groups online, where they are creating cultural hotspots. They are supporting "new culture media makers and hopefully creating new authors and artists."

Claudio Prado, who has been working on this project in Brazil, says that they teach kids how to upload before how to download. How cool is that?

Click here for a terrific interview with Gil on Democracy Now.