High-Speed Internet Lines Increase in U.S.

NEW YORK (AP) _ The number of high-speed Internet lines in the United States increased 42 percent last year, and service now is available in all but 7 percent of the nation's ZIP codes. <br/><br/>In

Thursday, June 10th 2004, 11:23 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ The number of high-speed Internet lines in the United States increased 42 percent last year, and service now is available in all but 7 percent of the nation's ZIP codes.

In a semiannual report, the Federal Communications Commission said 28.2 million homes and businesses had high-speed lines. Cable modems made up 58 percent and DSL 34 percent.

Most of the country had choice. Seven-eight percent of the nation's ZIP codes had at least two companies providing service; 11 percent had 10 or more (serving a ZIP code does not necessarily mean it is available to everyone in that region).

But 7 percent of the ZIP codes had no high-speed service at all. The figure exceeded 20 percent for South Dakota and West Virginia, and 15 percent for Arkansas, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska and North Dakota.

For DSL service, which uses souped-up phone lines, 84 percent came through the traditional Bell phone companies.