Cable Operators Hold Slim Lead On Telcos In Broadband Growth

U.S. cable companies held a slim lead over telephone companies in subscriber growth for the second quarter, but commanded their lowest market share ever, a research firm said Wednesday.

Cable operators had 28 million high-speed Internet customers, compared to 17 million DSL subscribers reported by the telephone companies, Pike & Fischer's Communications Media Analysis Group said. Cable operators had 55 percent of the market, which was their lowest share ever.

Cable companies added 858,600 subscribers by the end of June, which was slightly ahead of the 856,400 customers added by telephone companies.

Cable and telephone companies added 1.7 million high-speed Internet customers in the second quarter, bringing the total number of broadband households to 39.7 million. That number represents 34 percent of American households, and was 12.5 million higher than the number of households recorded in the same period a year ago.

Pike & Fischer provides legal reference services in Internet, communications and administrative law, as well as reference services for the telecommunications industry.