With the economic benefits of broadband access rising, experts continue to debate how U.S. digital infrastructure compares to its international peers. This Backgrounder examines the issues.

UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 in December 2001 endorsed the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which encourages global discussions on how to benefit from the digital revolution while addressing the digital divide. The International Telecommunication Union hosted two phases in Geneva from December 10 to 12, 2003, and in Tunis from November 16 to 18, 2005. From February 25 to 27, 2013, WSIS participants met in Paris to evaluate progress and goals.

President Barack Obama ordered on February 12, 2013 that the U.S. government work with "owners and operators of critical infrastructure" to share information about cyber threats and attacks and to implement common cybersecurity standards.

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon says Afghanistan's aspiring tech moguls, impossibly optimistic and totally obsessed, believe that computing will not only help make them money but also secure peace in their land.

The White House released this strategy document, "Digital Government: Building a 21st Century Platform to Better Serve the American People" on May 23, 2012.

Smart grids might revolutionize energy use and delivery, but there are associated security risks, particularly regarding communications technology.

David Barboza and John Markoff explain why China's booming economy and growing technological infrastructure may thrust it to the forefront of the next generation of computing.

Richard A. Falkenrath discusses how the modern American police department must balance its information technology needs--including cloud computing services--against the unique legal framework within which it operates.

Peter Orszag explains how federal incentives are bringing the digital revolution to U.S. health care.

The U.S. International Strategy for Cyberspace was released by the White House on May 16, 2011; it "outlines our vision for the future of cyberspace, and sets an agenda for partnering with other nations and peoples to realize it."

The United States is falling behind international competitors in Internet technology and innovation, says Yochai Benkler, an expert on Internet law. He says FCC reforms should focus greater access to Internet infrastructure.

Listen to Massimo Sarmi, chief executive officer of Poste Italiane, discuss the steps that his organization is taking to address cybersecurity threats.

Watch Massimo Sarmi, chief executive officer of Poste Italiane, discuss the steps that his organization is taking to address cybersecurity threats.

Information about prices and quantities of assets lies at the heart of well-functioning capital markets. In the current financial crisis, it has become clear that many important actors—both firms and regulatory agencies—have not had sufficient information. Distributed by the Center for Geoeconomic Studies, this Working Paper proposes a new regulatory regime for gathering and disseminating financial market information. The authors argue that government regulators need a new infrastructure to collect and analyze adequate information from large (systemically important) financial institutions. This new information framework would bolster the government's ability to foresee, contain, and, ideally, prevent disruptions to the overall financial services industry.

The number of broadband subscriptions throughout the OECD continued to increase during 2005 from 136 million in June 2005 to 158 million by December 2005.

An examination of the needs and expectations for broadband content and applications by U.S. Seniors, Asian-Americans, African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and others.