This report is an enjoyably accessible introduction to broadband communications for an era in which the term itself is increasingly pitched as the mark of excellence in high-speed Internet access. Published by the National Academy Press, the publishing house of the National Academy of Science, this work closely follows the history and development of broadband technology from its inception to the present state of the art. Available online or for (hard copy) purchase, the work covers numerous aspects of broadband and other forms of high-speed communications, from the technical and practical to the critical issues of telecommunications regulation and governance. Consumers, students, and technology enthusiasts will all find something worth considering in this thorough study.