FCC REPORTS JUMP IN HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS LINES
Number of high-speed Internet connections in U.S. grew 158% last year, to 7.1 million, FCC said in report issued at agency’s agenda meeting Thurs. As expected, biggest growth was in ADSL lines, which increased more than fourfold to 2 million by end of 2000, while connections over coaxial cable systems jumped 153% to 3.6 million. At end of 1999, cable had much bigger edge, with 1.4 million lines compared with 370,000 DSL lines. Although provision of high-speed service by satellite and fixed wireless technology represents “small fraction” of total lines in use, number grew to 112,000 in Dec. 2000 from 50,000 in Dec. 1999, report said. FCC spokesman said other wireline technologies such as T-1 and DS-3 accounted for most of remaining 1.4 million lines. Those are mainly offered to business customers.
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Other details outlined by FCC: (1) Of 7.1 million high- speed lines at end of year, 5.2 million were for residential and small business subscribers. (2) About 4.3 million of lines were provided at speeds of more than 200 kbps in both directions, which is FCC’s definition of advanced services. (3) Some high-speed subscribers were present in 75% of nation’s zip codes, compared with 56% at end of 1999, but they were more likely to be located in densely populated, high-income areas. High-speed lines were present in 97% of zip codes considered most densely populated but only 45% of low-density codes. By median family income, they were reported present in 96% of top one-tenth of zip codes but only in 56% of bottom one-tenth.
Industry parties viewed statistics from perspective of their policy positions. SBC said growth in DSL lines fell between first and 2nd half of 2000 because of “the ever-increasing regulatory burdens that DSL providers, as opposed to cable providers, face.” SBC said its DSL lines grew 24% between 4th quarter 1999 and first quarter 2000 but only 9% from first to 2nd quarter 2000. AT&T spokeswoman said agency’s report “clearly shows that high-speed Internet service is being deployed at a rapid pace,” which “puts into question the need for legislation like Tauzin-Dingell.”
FCC Comr. Martin said he was glad this was one of first items to come before him as new commissioner. “This will be one of my central priorities… and I am pleased to begin my tenure with this inquiry.” Comr. Copps said there should be “sense of urgency” about high-speed buildout. “We face an incredible infrastructure buildout,” comparable to interstate highway system or transcontinental railroad, he said.
FCC also opened its 3rd inquiry into whether advanced services were being deployed to all Americans in “reasonable and timely” fashion. Agency asked: (1) For data to help it measure investment and deployment of advanced services. (2) Whether evaluation criteria it used were reasonable. (3) Whether there was anything it could do to stimulate advanced services if it determined that advanced capability wasn’t being adequately deployed. Agency has 180 days to complete inquiry.