Broadband Growth in Major Cities

Is the last mile barrier being worn down? New data shows solid growth in broadband penetration in major U.S. cities, even as the Internet infrastructure has experienced a major meltdown. More than 25 million Americans are now surfing the Internet over a broadband connection, according to the new data.

The relatively slow adoption of high-speed Internet services has been a major factor in the great Internet disappointment. Projections of explosive uptake of Internet services abounded during the euphoria of 1998-2000. But the so-called "last mile" barrier has proved a stumbling block, as the Telecom Act of 1996 has not produced the seamless connectivity needed to deliver broadband to the masses.

Not surprisingly, the new report from Neilsen/NetRatings shows the strongest gains in the major markets, including New York (2.7 million broadband users), Los Angeles (1.7 million) and Boston and San Francisco (1.1 million each). The fastest-growing major market was Washington, DC, which showed a one-year gain of 153 percent to 532,000 high-speed users.

This growth pales when compared to the giddy projections of just a few years ago. But any improvement in broadband penetration is welcome news for the Internet infrastructure industry, as it brings us ever closer to the day when fat pipes deliver meaningful levels of movies, music and online gaming to the home, and real-time collaborative tools to the business community.