FCC Releases Data on High-Speed Internet Access

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, 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.

High-Speed Lines

• High-speed lines increased by 22 percent during the first half of 2007, from 82.8 million to 100.9 million lines in service, following a 27 percent increase, from 65.3 million to 82.8 million lines, during the second half of 2006. For the full twelve-month period ending June 30, 2007, high-speed lines increased by 55 percent from 65.3 million to 100.9 million (or 35.7 million lines) compared to a 54 percent increase, from 42.5 million to 65.3 million lines (or 22.8 million lines), in the twelve-month period ending June 30, 2006. 
• Of the 100.9 million total high-speed lines reported as of June 30, 2007, 65.9 million served primarily residential end users. Cable modem service represented 50.6 percent of these lines while 37.5 percent were asymmetric DSL (ADSL) connections, 0.2 percent were symmetric DSL (SDSL) or traditional wireline connections, 1.7 percent were fiber connections to the end user premises, and 10.0 percent 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 2.1 million lines during the first half of 2007, fiber connections increased by 0.4 million lines, and cable modem service increased by 2.4 million lines. For the full twelve-month period ending June 30, 2007, ADSL increased by 4.9 million lines, fiber connections increased by 0.7 million lines, and cable modem service increased by 5.2 million lines.

Advanced Services Lines

• Advanced services lines, which deliver services at speeds exceeding 200 kbps in both directions, increased by 16 percent during the first half of 2007, from 59.8 million to 69.6 million lines, compared to a 17 percent increase, from 51.1 million to 59.8 million lines, during the second half of 2006. For the full twelve-month period ending June 30, 2007, advanced services lines increased 36 percent from 51.1 million to 69.6 million (or 18.5 million lines).
• Of the 69.6 million advanced services lines reported as of June 30, 2007, 59.8 percent were at least 2.5 mbps in the faster direction and 40.2 percent were slower than 2.5 mbps in the faster direction.
• Of the 69.6 million advanced services lines, 61.1 million served primarily residential end users. Cable modem service represented 53.9 percent of these lines while 34.1 percent were ADSL connections, 0.2 percent were SDSL or traditional wireline connections, 1.9 percent were fiber connections to the end user premises, and 10.0 percent used other types of technology including satellite, terrestrial fixed or mobile wireless (on a licensed or unlicensed basis), and electric power line.

Geographic Coverage

• As a nationwide average, we estimate that high-speed DSL connections were available to 82 percent of the households to whom incumbent LECs could provide local telephone service as of June 30, 2007, and that high-speed cable modem service was available to 96 percent 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 percent of Zip Codes were listed by at least one provider. Our analysis indicates that more than 99 percent 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 96 percent of Zip Codes), satellite (in 92 percent of Zip Codes), ADSL (in 85 percent of Zip Codes), and cable modem service (in 66 percent of Zip Codes). ADSL and/or cable modem connections were reported to be present in 90 percent 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 can also be downloaded from the Wireline Competition Bureau Statistical Reports Internet site at www.fcc.gov/wcb/stats.