FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS MEDIA
CONTACT:
January 31, 2007
Mark Wigfield at (202) 418-0253
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION RELEASES DATA ON
HIGH-SPEED SERVICES FOR INTERNET ACCESS
High-Speed Connections to the Internet Increased by 26% in
the First Half of 2006
Washington, D.C. - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today
released new data on high-speed connections to the Internet in the
United
States. Twice a year, all facilities-based broadband providers are
required
to report to the Commission basic information about their service
offerings
and types of customers pursuant to the FCC's local telephone
competition and
broadband data gathering program (FCC Form 477). Statistics released
today
reflect data as of June 30, 2006.
For reporting purposes, high-speed lines are connections that deliver
services at speeds exceeding 200 kilobits per second (kbps) in at
least one
direction, while advanced services lines are connections that deliver
services at speeds exceeding 200 kbps in both directions. Commencing
with
the June 2005 data, we collect and report more detailed information
about
the speeds of in-service lines, provide finer distinctions among
technologies, and collect and analyze information about the
availability of
high-speed Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connections from incumbent
local
exchange carriers (incumbent LECs) and high-speed cable modem service
from
cable TV system operators.
1) High-Speed Lines
* High-speed lines increased by 26% during the first half of
2006,
from 51.2 million to 64.6 million lines in service, compared to a 21%
increase, from 42.4 million to 51.2 million lines, during the second
half of
2005. For the full twelve month period ending June 30, 2006, high-speed
lines increased by 52% (or 22.2 million lines). High-speed lines
encompass
advanced services lines and also include lines that deliver services at
speeds exceeding 200 kbps in one, but not both, directions.
* Of the 64.6 million total high-speed lines reported as of
June
30, 2006, 50.3 million served primarily residential end users. Cable
modem
service represented 55.2% of these lines while 40.1% were asymmetric DSL
(ADSL) connections, 0.2% were symmetric DSL (SDSL) or traditional
wireline
connections, 0.9% were fiber connections to the end user premises,
and 3.7%
used other types of technology including satellite, terrestrial fixed or
mobile wireless (on a licensed or unlicensed basis), and electric power
line.
* ADSL lines increased by 3.1 million lines during the first
half
of 2006 compared to an increase of 2.0 million lines for cable modem
service. For the full year, ADSL increased by 6.3 million lines
compared to
an increase of 4.6 million lines for cable modem service.
2) Advanced Services Lines
* Advanced services lines, which deliver services at speeds
exceeding 200 kbps in both directions, increased by 15% during the first
half of 2006, from 43.8 million to 50.4 million, compared to a 18%
increase,
from 37.3 million to 43.8 million lines, during the second half of 2005.
For the full twelve month period ending June 30, 2006, advanced services
lines increased 35% (or 13.2 million lines).
* Of the 50.4 million advanced services lines reported as of
June
30, 2006, 63.1% were at least 2.5 mbps in the faster direction and 36.9%
were slower than 2.5 mbps in the faster direction.
* Of the 50.4 million advanced services lines, 45.9 million
served
primarily residential end users. Cable modem service represented
59.9% of
these lines while 35.8% were ADSL connections, 0.2% were SDSL or
traditional
wireline connections, 1.0% were fiber connections to the end user
premises,
and 3.2% used other types of technology including satellite, terrestrial
fixed or mobile wireless (on a licensed or unlicensed basis), and
electric
power line.
3) Geographic Coverage
* As a nationwide average, we estimate that high-speed DSL
connections were available to 79% of the households to whom incumbent
LECs
could provide local telephone service as of June 30, 2006, and that
high-speed cable modem service was available to 93% of the households to
whom cable system operators could provide cable TV service.
* Providers list the Zip Codes in which they have at least one
high-speed connection in service to an end user, and 99% of Zip Codes
were
listed by at least one provider. Our analysis indicates that more
than 99%
of the nation's population lives in those Zip Codes. The most widely
reported technologies by this measure were satellite (with at least some
presence reported in 90% of Zip Codes), ADSL (in 82% of Zip Codes), and
cable modem (in 64% of Zip Codes). ADSL and/or cable modem
connections were
reported to be present in 88% of Zip Codes.
The summary statistics released today also include
state-by-state information, and population density and household income
information ranked by Zip Codes. As additional information becomes
available, it will be posted on the Commission's Internet site.
The report is available for reference in the FCC's Reference Information
Center, Courtyard Level, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC. Copies
may be
purchased by calling Best Copy and Printing, Inc. at (800) 378-3160.
The
report can also be downloaded from the Wireline Competition Bureau
Statistical Reports Internet site at www.fcc.gov/wcb/stats.
- FCC -
Wireline Competition Bureau contacts: James Eisner and Suzanne
Mendez at
(202) 418-0940, TTY (202) 418-0484.
Well, at least wireless was mentioned this time. 3.5% this time. Of
course
that is probably the same percentage of the Wireless operators that
filled
out Form 477.
Respectively,
Rick Harnish
President
OnlyInternet Broadband & Wireless, Inc.
260-827-2482
Founding Member of WISPA
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