E-Commerce Update

High-speed Internet access is still increasing, despite the bust in Telecom company stock values.

• The Federal Communications Commission reported that 12.8 million high-speed lines were in use in the U.S. at the end of 2001, 85 percent of them by residential and small business users. This represents an 80 percent increase from one year earlier.

• Of these high-speed access lines, cable television providers accounted for 7.1 million accounts, nearly double the total one year earlier. Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL) rose 95 percent to 3.9 million accounts.

Overseas, Internet access is growing even in the most unlikely places. Despite the efforts of the Chinese government to suppress "subversive content," 45 million Chinese are now using the Internet. According to the Chinese Information Industry Ministry, the average Chinese Internet user spends 8 hours and 20 minutes online each week. The agency's report noted that "The Internet is now coming closer to the common people."