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Jim Grace has been trying for more than a year to get a high-speed Internet computer connection via digital subscriber line for Glendale-based General Plastics Inc.
He is still on hold.
"There are a lot of people out there pumping DSL in Milwaukee, but the problem is, you can't get it," said Grace, director of operations for the 50-employee plastic thermal forming company.
For more than two years, a variety of firms have touted the availability of highspeed Internet access in the Milwaukee area. It is here, but not in all geographic areas. Even when lines are installed, they don't always successfully carry high-speed transmissions.
Firms that provide high-speed Internet access say they're working on extending their territories.
"We are expanding the reach of DSL," said Denise Koenig, spokeswoman for Ameritech Corp., Chicago, which is building DSL service lines in 13 states, including Wisconsin. "We're really proud of the progress that we've made so far."
But the Milwaukee area lags other areas of the country.
BIG MARKET FOCUS
Industry analysts say much of the initial effort in launching broadband lines that carry DSL was focused on bigger markets, such as Boston, Washington, D.C., New York and Los Angeles.
"Clearly the rollout has been more heavily focused on the big guys," said Michael Lauricello of Boston-based The Yankee Group, communications industry analysts. "Milwaukee is the same as every other tier two market at this point."
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