NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: January 31, 2007 Mark Wigfield at (202) 418-0253 Email: mark.wigfield@fcc.gov 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.