Survey: U.S. businesses broadband service

A survey Wednesday said U.S. small businesses are somewhat slow in adopting high-speed broadband service.

Hughes Network Systems said its commissioned survey discovered that some 43 percent of the 250 companies polled reported that broadband was not available in their areas, forcing them to continue using dial-up modems for Internet access.

Hughes contended that there appeared to be a lack of awareness that satellite broadband could eliminate that roadblock; however, many entrepreneurs assumed wrongly that only DSL and cable modems could bring high-speed to their businesses.

Two-thirds of the respondents agreed that broadband service was a major help in responding to customers and doing business-related Web surfing.

Copyright 2005 by United Press International