US broadband is slower than many other countries, and our broadband providers want it to stay that way. They’re pushing for low standards in the FCC’s definition of “broadband” that’ll be used when handing out stimulus funds.

Comcast, for example, argued for the definition of “basic” broadband to be a paltry 0.256Mbps downstream and upstream. Verizon aimed for 0.768Mbps downstream and 0.200Mbps upstream. Japan’s rate? 92.8Mbps. Korea has 80.8Mbps and France offers 51Mbps.

So what it all boils down to is this: These companies want stimulus funds, but they don’t want to, you know, improve their services with these funds. Instead, they want money for continuing to rank near the bottom of internet speeds offered by major industrialised nations. Here’s hoping the FCC sees through their BS and forces them to raise the bar if they’re getting any taxpayer money. [MSNBC]