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 16, 2009 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 20% in the Second Half of 2007 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 December 31, 2007. 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. High- speed lines encompass advanced services lines. 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. Also commencing with the June 2005 data, providers with fewer than 250 high-speed connections in service to end users in a particular state are no longer excused from reporting data for that state. 1) High-Speed Lines · High-speed lines increased by 20% during the second half of 2007, from 101.0 million to 121.2 million lines in service, following a 22% increase, from 82.8 million to 101.0 million lines, during the first half of 2007. For the full twelve-month period ending December 31, 2007, high-speed lines increased by 46% from 82.8 million to 121.2 million (or 38.4 million lines) compared to a 62% increase, from 51.2 million to 82.8 million lines (or 31.6 million lines), in the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2006. · Of the 121.2 million total high-speed lines reported as of December 31, 2007, 74.0 million served primarily residential end users. Cable modem service represented 47.8% of these lines while 35.8% were asymmetric DSL (ADSL) connections, 0.1% were symmetric DSL (SDSL) or traditional wireline connections, 2.3% were fiber connections to the end user premises, and 14.0% used other types of technology including satellite, terrestrial fixed or mobile wireless (on a licensed or unlicensed basis), and electric power line. · High-speed ADSL increased by 1.9 million lines during the second half of 2007, fiber connections increased by 0.4 million lines, and cable modem service increased by 2.1 million lines. For the full twelve-month period ending December 31, 2007, ADSL increased by 4.0 million lines, fiber connections increased by 0.8 million lines, and cable modem service increased by 4.5 million lines. 2) Advanced Services Lines · Advanced services lines, which deliver services at speeds exceeding 200 kbps in both directions, increased by 15% during the second half of 2007, from 69.6 million to 80.2 million lines, compared to a 16% increase, from 59.8 million to 69.6 million lines, during the first half of 2007. For the full twelve-month period ending December 31, 2007, advanced services lines increased 34% from 59.8 million to 80.2 million (or 20.4 million lines). · Of the 80.2 million advanced services lines reported as of December 31, 2007, 56.4% were at least 2.5 mbps in the faster direction and 43.5% were slower than 2.5 mbps in the faster direction. · Of the 80.2 million advanced services lines, 69.1 million served primarily residential end users. Cable modem service represented 50.7% of these lines while 32.6% were ADSL connections, 0.1% were SDSL or traditional wireline connections, 2.4% were fiber connections to the end user premises, and 14.1% 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 82% of the households to whom incumbent LECs could provide local telephone service as of December 31, 2007, and that high-speed cable modem service was available to 96% 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 over 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 high-speed mobile wireless (with at least some presence reported in 94% of Zip Codes), satellite (in 93% of Zip Codes), ADSL (in 87% of Zip Codes), and cable modem service (in 66% of Zip Codes). ADSL and/or cable modem connections were reported to be present in 91% 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. Note that, on June 12, 2008, the Commission adopted a Report and Order (FCC 08-89) and Order on Reconsideration (FCC 08-148) that together revise the Form 477 reporting requirements. The changes will become effective upon review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget. 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.