Which stat don't you like Tom?
The PEW Report:
http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Digital_Divisions_Oct_5_2005.pdf
"As of May-June 2005, 68% of American adults, or about 137 million
people, use the
internet, up from 63% one year ago. Thirty-two percent of American
adults, or about 65
million people, do not use the internet and not always by choice.
Certain groups continue
to lag in their internet adoption, including Americans age 65 and older,
African-
Americans, and those with less education."
Numbers vary depending on the poll/survey/source.
From America's Network:
"Some 62 million Americans are still using their telephone lines to dial
into the Internet, according to recent figures from the Pew Internet and
American Life Project. Other figures from research firms like Forrester
show that only about 40% of Americans have high-speed connections at
home, 30% rely on dial-up and 25% don’t have any Internet connections at
all!"
So how come the US is lagging behind most of the developed world in
broadband access? Some analysts cite price as a factor, but that seems
doubtful. DSL deals from Verizon and ATT often are priced below monthly
dial-up rates, and millions of cable television customers can get
cable-modem service packaged at a discount with their TV and phone
service. So why stick with slow dialup?
The main problem seems to be the free-market telecom frenzy that has
enveloped the US (and much of its population) in technology and price
uncertainty. With no national broadband policy in place, multiple
service providers are targeting affluent urban areas, while leaving many
poor and rural dwellers to fend for themselves. In big cities, that
means consumers face daunting broadband choices. Should they sign a
contract with their cable provider or telco? Wait for the installation
of a Wi-Fi network? Choose an alternate provider like EarthLink? And
which broadband technology is the best? Many just stick with what they
know best: the slow but reliable telephone.
Even the service providers themselves are confused. A plan by the city
of West Hollywood, Calif. to install Wi-Fi has stalled for two years
because the local utility company can’t decide whether to grant a
right-of-way for the equipment on its lampposts.
Inevitably, this is going to change, but the change would come much more
quickly if a national policy and direction were put into place,
consumers knew what to expect and the service providers better focused
their efforts. Until then, Americans will have another reason to worry
about the rise of China.
---------------------
Doesn't matter if you like or believe the numbers. The fact is that
Broadband growth has stalled. So ISPs have to find out why (fear, tired
on PC troubles, too much crap, don't need the internet, no PC to use) in
order to have growth in those flattened or no-growth areas.
- Peter
http://radinfo.blogspot.com/2006/09/broadband-policy.html
Tom DeReggi wrote:
Peter,
I do not agree with those statistics.
Why would anyone prefer DialUp for the same price? Don't think so.
A large part of that 68% are DialUp Users NOT by choice.
Tom DeReggi
RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc
IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband
----- Original Message ----- From: "George Rogato" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org>
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 7:49 PM
Subject: Re: [WISPA] Lack of Competition Leaves U.S.16th Among
IndustrializedNations
Peter R. wrote:
We are actually at the point where about 68% of the US population
has Internet.
The rest don't own a computer or do not want Internet.
Some of that 68% is still on dial-up. For some it is a price thing.
For some it is not understanding technology. For some it is to make
the experience painful to avoid wasting hours on the internet.
So dropping the price - as SBC and VZ have experienced - to sub-$15
gets you some dial-up conversions. But when the price returns to
normal, some switch back to cheaper dial-up.
The dilemma becomes How do you get more internet appliance (PC's,
laptops, PDAs, internet terminal) penetration?
The marketing question is: What Remarkable & Useful things can you
do with broadband (other than entertainment)?
That's my 2 cents.
Peter @ RAD-INFO, Inc.
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