And then last month, Intel abandoned its plans to manufacture cable modems. Delays hurt because other industries also are hurrying to perfect and sell high-speed computer services. Satellite and microwave companies say they can broadcast Internet data to PC users faster and cheaper than they get it today. And phone companies are testing and tweaking several different methods to offer much speedier communications over their phone lines. This will not be a runaway by either side.
Cable companies say they still have the lead.
Comcast will have cable modems commercially available in all its major markets by the end of next year, says Steven Craddock, vice president of New Media Development. This year, Comcast will begin signing cable modem customers around Baltimore. Telecommunications Inc. expects to offer the service around San Francisco, Chicago and Hartford, Conn., this year. Time Warner says it will begin this summer in the Akron-Canton, Ohio, area and in San Diego. Cable companies can't afford many more delays.