The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released summary statistics of its latest data on the deployment of high-speed connections to the Internet in the United States. Facilities-based service providers file data with the FCC on the amount of high-speed connections in service twice a year pursuant to the FCC’s local competition and broadband data gathering program (FCC Form 477).
The FCC adopted the local competition and broadband data gathering program in March 2000 to assist the FCC in its efforts to monitor and further implement the pro-competitive, deregulatory provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The FCC uses data from this effort to evaluate the deployment of advanced telecommunications capability.
For reporting purposes, high-speed lines are defined as those that provide services at speeds exceeding 200 kilobits per second (kbps) in at least one direction, while advanced services lines are those that provide services at speeds exceeding 200 kbps in both directions. Reporting of state-level data is required for providers with at least 250 high-speed connections in service in a state. Statistics released today summarize FCC Form 477 filings due from qualifying providers on September 1, 2003, and reflect data as of June 30, 2003.
1)High-Speed Lines
·High-speed lines connecting homes and businesses to the Internet increased by 18% during the first half of 2003, from 19.9 million to 23.5 million lines, compared to a 23% increase, from 16.2 million to 19.9 million lines, during the second half of 2002. For the full twelve month period ending June 30, 2003, high-speed lines increased by 45%.
·Of the 23.5 million high-speed lines in service, 20.6 million served residential and small business subscribers, a 19% increase from the 17.4 million residential and small business high-speed lines reported six months earlier. For the full twelve month period ending June 30, 2003, high-speed lines for residential and small business subscribers increased by 48%.
2)Advanced Services Lines
·Of the 23.5 million high-speed lines, 16.3 million provided advanced services, i.e., services at speeds exceeding 200 kbps in both directions. Advanced services lines increased 32% during the first half of 2003, from 12.4 million to 16.3 million lines. For the full twelve month period ending June 30, 2003, advanced services lines of all technology types increased by 56%.
·About 14.3 million of the 16.3 million advanced services lines served residential and small business subscribers.
3)Technology Type
·High-speed connections in service over asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) technologies increased by 19% during the first half of 2003, from 6.5 million to 7.7 million lines, compared to a 27% increase, from over 5.1 million to 6.5 million lines, during the preceding six months. For the full twelve month period ending June 30, 2003, high-speed ADSL increased by 50%.
·High-speed coaxial cable connections (cable modem service) increased by 20% during the first six months of 2003, from 11.4 million to 13.7 million lines, compared to a 24% increase, from 9.2 million to 11.4 million lines, during the second half of 2002. For the full twelve month period ending June 30, 2003, high-speed cable modem connections increased by 49%.
·Among advanced services lines, ADSL lines increased by 16% during the first six months of 2003, compared to a 43% increase for cable modem service. During the preceding six-month period, the rate of growth of ADSL (18%) was slightly lower than cable modem service (22%). For the full twelve month period ending June 30, 2003, advanced services lines – service lines provided in excess of 200 kbps in both directions – for ADSL increased by 37% and cable modem connections increased by 75%.
The summary statistics released today also include state-by-state, population density, and household income information, ranked by zip codes. As additional info
