FCC says 32.5 mln American households use broadband

The number of American consumers and businesses that subscribe to broadband Internet service jumped 38% in the year ended June 30, 2004, according to FCC. The government agency found about 32.5 mln broadband lines connected homes and businesses to the Internet, up from 23.5 mln at the end of June 2003. Consumers subscribing to broadband via DSL rose 3.7 mln, or almost 49%, to 11.4 mln lines. Cable Internet subscriber numbers jumped 4.9 mln to 18.6 mln lines, up 36% YTY. 32 mln customers received their local telephone service from a company other than the major US local telephone carriers.