Bankruptcy And Debts

Two Out Of Every Five Americans Have Broadband Access At Home, According To Nielsen//Netratings

Among Active Internet Users, Those Connecting Via Broadband Surpass 60 Percent for the First Time

NEW YORK September 28, 2005 - Nielsen//NetRatings, a global leader in Internet media and market research, today announced that the number of Americans with broadband access reached 42 percent of the U.S. population in August, increasing 16 percent since the beginning of this year (see Table 1). In January 2005, 103.8 million Americans had broadband access; by August, that figure had grown to 120.8 million. These figures were compiled from the Nielsen//NetRatings panel and report the connection speeds of those with Internet access at home.
Although broadband penetration among Internet users has long been on the rise, it was always amid speculation that the high cost of broadband would limit its widespread adoption," said Charles Buchwalter, vice president of client analytics, Nielsen//NetRatings. However, over the last year, carriers have responded to the growing demand for lower cost broadband, and all indications are that this trend will continue."

Consolidation Debt Mortgage Number of Internet Users Actively Connecting via Broadband Continues to Increase

Aside from Americans declaring bankruptcy at alarming rates (one in every 100 families are affected by a bankruptcy), Americans also carry $683 billion in revolving credit card debt. Remember, that’s not what’s charged every month, rather what Americans owe currently on their credit cards. These are outstanding, unpaid balances. Even more frightening, according to the Cambridge Consumer Credit Index, 47% of Americans pay only the minimum payment each month.

Consolidation Debt Help Nielsen//NetRatings also reported that in August 2005, the percent of active U.S. Internet users connecting online via broadband from home reached an all-time high, at 61.3 percent, compared with 51.4 percent of active Internet users in August last year. (An active Internet user is anyone who went online or downloaded an Internet application during the month.) In August 2005, there were 86.1 million Internet users accessing the Web through high-speed connections, marking a 34 percent gain over 64.1 million during August 2004.

People file for bankruptcy because they're in debt. The more debt there is, the more bankruptcies there are. Well, duh! It really is that simple. When compared to the level of borrowing, the rate of bankruptcy has remained fairly steady. In 1977, 74 bankruptcies were filed for every $100 million of consumer debt. In 1997, 73 bankruptcies were filed for every $100 million of consumer debt. Bankruptcy isn't the cause of debt but rather is the result. And it isn't the disease but rather is one of the cures. Restricting access to bankruptcy court won't solve the problem of debt any more than closing the hospitals will cure a plague.

Consolidation Credit Debt In contrast, fewer Internet surfers are using a narrowband connection to go online. Among at-home Internet users, those using a narrowband connection have decreased by 10 percent since August last year, from 60.6 million to 54.3 million in August 2005. Currently, 38.7 percent of active Internet users continue to rely on a narrowband connection, compared with 48.6 percent in August 2004. This continuing increase in broadband use is an essential step in a maturing Internet industry, said Buchwalter. Compared with their narrowband counterparts, broadband users spend more time and money online because their surfing experience is faster, more persistent, and ultimately, more satisfying. This is good news for consumers, publishers and advertisers alike, he continued.

Debt that is acquired in the joint name of your partner accounts for 28% of all bankruptcies in the UK, according to a new report.

Bill Consolidation Debt About Nielsen//NetRatings

Creditors note that they write off about $40 billion in debts annually, which works out to about $400 to $500 for every American household. Thus, the reasoning goes, if access to bankruptcy were restricted, the credit industry wouldn't suffer losses that it must pass along to consumers.

Consolidation Debt Quote NetRatings, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTRT) delivers leading Internet media and market research solutions, marketed globally under the Nielsen//NetRatings brand. With high quality, technology-driven products and services, Nielsen//NetRatings is the global standard for Internet audience measurement and premier source for online advertising intelligence, enabling clients to make informed business decisions regarding their Internet and digital strategies. The Nielsen//NetRatings portfolio includes panel-based and sitecentric Internet audience measurement services, online advertising intelligence, user lifestyle and demographic data, e-commerce and transaction metrics, and custom data, research and analysis. For more information, please visit www.nielsen-netratings.com.

BBC Two has ambitions to become the first mainstream television channel to appear on broadband, according to its controller.

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