By BART JARMAN
Internet users who are tired of the agonizing wait while graphics and other features load may get some relief from an unlikely source.
After piloting the program in several cities, the cable industry showcased its high-speed modem at a cable convention in New Orleans this week.
'Internet access and online services for personal computers are one of the fastest growth areas in the industry today, and cable companies are uniquely equipped to offer the high speed network that will enable these services to become a rich multimedia experience,' said Larry Romrell, president of TCI Technology Ventures, a division of Colorado-based Tele-Communications, Inc.
The new cable connections carry text, voice and pictures 50 to 100 times faster than the standard telephone modems now in use.
Other companies that began selling the high-speed cable hookups over the past few months include: Time Warner Cable, Cox Cable Communications and Comcast Corp.
The cable service is only available in a few markets in Ohio, Connecticut, Florida and California, but other areas are scheduled for service in the next year.
To obtain the service, customers must have special cable installed and set up for the service.
Once uniform technical standards are in place (standards were announced this week), people will be able to buy cable modems from retailers and the service will be available over existing TV cable lines.
Companies are charging an average of $100 for installing the service, and monthly fees range from $35 to $60 per month. TCI's one time installation and software costs $150.
Basic service includes unlimited Internet access, e-mail, and in some cases a customized Netscape browser, local or regional content, community listings and shopping services.
Customers who piloted the program said service outages were few, though a storm or other natural disaster can knock out service just as it does for cable TV.
Motorola, Bay Networks' LANcity, General Instrument, Scientific-Atlanta and Hewlett-Packard are developing cable modems for retailers and expect to have modems on the market by late summer.