Bermuda is in danger of falling behind in terms of computer technology, with a large majority of the community well below acceptably recognised international broadband levels.

That is according to the Computer Society of Bermuda (CSB), which has raised concerns over the US Federal Communications Commission's approval to change one of its economic indicators, broadband Internet penetration, from a definition of subscribers as those with a minimum Internet connection speed of 200kbps to 768kbps.

The Island prides itself as a sophisticated market with 15th place in the World E-readiness Survey and having a 36-percent broadband penetration rate with 23,600 people out of a population of 64,574 having the service, said the CSB. Currently, according to the CSB, Bermuda's broadband reporting is based on subscribers with at least a 256kbps connection to the Internet, the CSB points out, but when compared to the US redefinition of the broadband minimum, only one to two percent of Bermudians can be classified as having the service, despite 256kbps being the minimum guidance speed by the International Telecommunication Union. To make matters worse, it claims, the minimum speed in Europe is generally accepted to be 500kbps.

"The average Internet speed in Bermuda is approximately 1 Meg, with what appears to be a large majority of our community well below acceptably recognised international broadband standards," said CSB marketing.

"We sincerely do not want to see Bermuda fall behind. If 64 percent of Bermuda is not on broadband, then it is assumed that a large percentage of our students are deprived of quality access or have no access at all. This is important to note because this generation is expected to compete at the same level of sophistication as they move into higher education and the workforce.

"Sixty-four percent stands out with us, but 98 percent to 99 percent potentially falling below the international Broadband standard is worse then unsettling."