"Dee D. Flint" wrote in message
...



Plus if BPL does "threaten" to enter a market, the DSL and cable guys will
drop their prices to keep from losing market share. So I bet they are
monitoring this situation closely. The latter already know it is price
that
keeps some people from switching from dial-up. Just look at some of the
recent ads on TV for their promotions. Cable had been advertising a
$29.99
introductory offer and now they are offering a $19.99 introductory offer.
DSL and cable know that they have to get close to dial up prices to get
the
customers.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE


I was wondering how many people have broadband access, so I googled this up:

"A new, national report by comScore Networks indicates broadband Internet
access is ready to overtake dial-up access as the top online subscription
service in major metro markets in the United States. "

""In the past several months, we've seen the U.S. online population reach
150 million people, and household broadband penetration cross the 33 percent
threshold," said Russ Fradin, executive vice president of comScore Networks.
"Now we've recorded another milestone, with broadband accounting for more
than half of U.S. major market Internet connections.""

If the story is correct, half of the internet users have broadband access
where it's widely available, and a third of the country has it. Roughly 50
million people in the US have broadband access.

http://www.ectnews.com/story/33108.html

The story doesn't mention dropping price as much of a driving force in the
expansion of broadband, but I don't see how it can't be considered as the
main reason. SBC here runs promotional offers with the first few months of
DSL broadband for little more than the cost of dial up. Of course, the
price goes up after the promotional period ends.

Anyway, there seems to be a wide interest in broadband, as long as it's
offered at an attractive price.

Frank Dresser