According to the Journal, about 50 churches already have secured lucrative deals and many others are currently in negotiations. That 56 million figure represents 27 percent of the U.S. adult population. Another 16 million adults intend to sign on to the Internet during 1998, the survey also found. If those 16 million follow through, bringing the total user population to 72 million, the Internet user base will have doubled since the second quarter of 1996. The survey also explored Internet user habits, finding that users spend a mean level of 9.8 hours a week on the Internet or related online services, an increase of 2.9 hours since second quarter 1996.
Electronic commerce is on the rise as well.
Up from 2.6 million online shoppers in the second quarter of 1996, 8.7 million accessed the Internet to make purchases in the third quarter of 1997. But the picture is not all rosy. The survey also found a churn trend. More than 10 million people said that they no longer use the Internet or online services, mostly because they no longer have access or do not find the services useful anymore. California Telco Garners Good Press for Independents Rural telecommunications was thrust into the spotlight in a recent edition of the New York Times.