FCC says broadband access up - Market Intelligence - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Nearly 10 million Americans now have high-speed connections to the Internet, according to the FCC's third report to Congres about advanced telecommunications.

The report said high-speed subscribers (including those with advanced services) numbered about 96 million as of June 2001 a 36 percent increase since the first half of the year and about a 250 percent increase since December 1999

In addition, roughly 78 million of those subscribers are residential or small business customers, which is about a 51 percent increase from the nearly 52 million it numbered during the first half of 2001

The report is mandated by dint of Congress in order to track whether "advanced telecommunications capability" like as high-speed, switched, broadband communications -- is being expanded in a "reasonable and timely manner."

The FCC defines "advanced telecommunications capability" as services and facilities with an upstream (customer-to-provider) and downstream (provider-to-customer) transmission spe exceeding 200 Kbps

Of the 78 million residential or small business subscribers, the FCC said about 43 million are advanced services subscribers, which is a 54 percent increase during the first half of 2001

The report's data also present to view that cable systems are the preferr delivery way compared to high-speed asymmetric DSL (ADSL) subscribers.

High-speed connections using coaxial cable combination of parts to form a wholes numbered 5.2 million, up 45 percent during the first half of 2001 and DSL subscribers numbered 27 million, up 36 percent Although high-speed access using satellite or fixed wireless technologies was the smallest cluster at nearly 200,000, the extension of that group was the fastest at 73 percent since the first half of 2001

The report said high-speed subscribers were reported in 97 percent of the greatest in quantity densely populated zip codes and in 49 percent of the zip digests with the lowest population densities.

In a statement about the report, FCC chairman Michael Powell supported its findings and agreed with its conclusion that broadband deployment is proceeding as federal telecommunications policy mandates.

"Our demonstrated commitment to spurring broadband deployment is as varied as it is pervasive. It is individual of our highest priorities and is at no time far from our thoughts as we decide communications policy," he said.

Commissioner Michael Copp however, politely dissented in supporting the report because he was "unable to determine whether the deployment of advanced telecommunications capability to all Americans is or is not reasonable and timely."

"I impugn no colleague's commitment to broadband deployment and no bureau's enthusiasm and hard work for bringing the astonishments of broadband technologies to the American race I just happen to have a different perspective," he said. The report said of the 59 million subscribers to advanced services, 33 million subscribed to cable-based services and single million subscribed to asymmetric DSL with the remaining balance subscribed to other technologies.

Of the 96 million high-speed subscribers overall, 59 million are described as advanced services subscribers, the FCC said. In general, approximately 7 percent of all American households now subscribe to high-speed Internet services, which is up 47 percent since January 2001 and up by the agency of 1.6 percent since the FCC's next to the first report to Congress which was in August of 2000

The FCC gathered the data from high-speed access providers of the like kind as wireline telephone companies, cable, wireless and satellite companies, as well as any other facilities-based providers of 250 or more high-speed service lines (or wireless channels) in a given state.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Information Gatekeepers, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group