Indivisible, with broadband
and justice for all

US broadband lines surged from 51.2 million to 82.5 million (about a 60 percent increase) in 2006, nearly doubling the 31 percent gain from the year before, reports the FCC.

But the FCC wasn't counting subscribers; rather, it was observing high-speed's availability based on zip code, according to Ars Technica.

"If even a single resident there can get 200Kbps broadband service," the zip code is considered "served."

Counting this way suggests 99 percent of Americans having some form of broadband service available to them.

Nonetheless, 2006 was a major year for the high-speed connection.

With the growing sense of indispensability surrounding high-speed internet, '06 marks a shift in mindset between notions of broadband as a utility, versus as a privileged service.

A recent poll suggests many perceive the internet as a decent replacement for a temporarily absent significant other. And AT&T recently took it upon itself to provide free wi-fi to victims of the Southern California wildfires.