WSJ.com - High-Speed Access Grows 15%

WSJ.com - High-Speed Access Grows 15%: "High-speed Internet access increased 15% during the first half of 2004 to a total of 32.5 million lines, the Federal Communications Commission said Wednesday.
That's down from the 20% rise registered during the second half of 2003. Year-over-year, high-speed broadband use rose 38%, the FCC said. The FCC defines high-speed Internet connections as those exceeding 200 kilobits per second.
High-speed connections over digital lines grew 20% in the first six months of 2004 to 11.4 million and 49% in the 12 months ended in June. Cable modem connections, meanwhile, rose 13% in the first half of 2004 to 18.6 million lines. The remaining 2.5 million high-speed connections include wireless, satellite and fiber.
Despite robust broadband growth, the U.S. still appears to lag other countries in broadband penetration rates. According to the International Telecommunications Union, the U.S. ranked 11th in 2002 among major economies in broadband use, trailing Hong Kong, Canada, Belgium and others."