A study conducted by the Communications Workers of America labor union found that the U.S. is pulling up the tail end on the list of speedy Internet connections. The purported reason for the slowness in American Internet dealings is a lack in policy regarding the roll out of broadband Internet.

Larry Cohen, the president of the CWA explains the problem: “The U.S. is the only industrialized nation without a national policy to promote universal, high-speed Internet access.” In other nations, the spread of broadband Internet is supported and encouraged by government policies.

In Senate legislation recently introduced by Senator Daniel Inouye, there have been provisions suggested as part of the Broadband Data Improvement Act. Such provisions would require the “collection and evaluation of data on broadband deployment, an upgraded definition of ‘high speed’ that fits with ever-evolving technology, and grant programs for states and local communities to conduct their own broadband mapping.”

A major concern of the generally slow Internet connections in the U.S. is the impact it may have on online retailing. If efforts are not made to fix the problem, the CWA is concerned there will be a loss of dominance in the global economy, and with that a loss of jobs.