FCC: Broadband Users Top 35 Million

The Federal Communications Commission, in a semiannual report, said high-speed Internet lines in service grew by 17% in the second half of 2004, compared with a 16% increase in the first six months of the year. Those figures refer to growth in the small-business and consumer market.

Growth in DSL rose 21% compared to a 15% gain for cable in the last six months of 2004.

Download the full report from FCC here (PDF file)..

Also, in an editorial in WSJ today, new FCC chairman Kevin Martin writes about the state of broadband in U.S. “Although we have seen billions of dollars of new investment in broadband networks, there is still more that the government must do to spur broadband deployment. We need to place all broadband providers on equal footing so that they can fairly compete in the marketplace. This means that we must treat all such providers in the same manner — free of undue regulation that can stifle infrastructure investment. This does not mean, however, that the government should have no role in the broadband market. To the contrary, we must be vigilant in ensuring that public safety, law enforcement and consumer protection needs continue to be met.”

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