A new report from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration shows that the benefits of head-to-head competition, tax relief and the clearing of regulatory roadblocks has expanded broadband access in America.

The Networked Nation: Broadband in America 2007 report also proves the wisdom of government policies that allow consumers, not regulators, to pick winners among competing technologies in the marketplace.

Here are few highlights from the report:

• According to the FCC’s 2006 data, broadband service was available in 99 percent of the nation’s zip codes, encompassing 99 percent of the nation’s population;

• Since 2000, the total number of broadband lines in the United States has grown by more than 1,100 percent; from not quite 6.8 million lines in December 2000, to 82.5 million in December 2006, according to the most recent FCC data.

• By December 2006, 91.5 percent of ZIP codes had three or more competing service providers and more than 50 percent of the nation’s ZIP codes had six or more competitors.

In the area of broadband access, the report calls for better data gathering tools. But the market data that we already have are persuasive, and as the report points out, broadband services have become dramatically more available and affordable across the country. “Although additional work remains to be done, broadband penetration is increasing sharply, and consumers – including those in rural and remote areas – have more opportunities than ever to choose the broadband solution (i.e., technology, services, and provider) that best suits their needs and budget.”

The Networked Nation report also provides some eye-popping statistics on the phenomenal growth of wireless broadband. This is an area that is consistently overlooked in discussions of the OECD broadband usage rankings that purport to show the United States “falling behind” other industrialized nations. This new report notes that the number of broadband lines provided by wireless operators increased from approximately 380,000 in June 2005 to almost 22 million at year end 2006 – “a growth rate that dwarfs that of other broadband platforms.” Based on one estimate, there are now 66,058 public/commercial Wi-Fi access points, or “hot spots” in the United States — more than double the next closest country.

Check out the full Networked Nation report here.