CompuServe Messages

FYI, Continental Cable (I think) already offers Internet service to regular cable subscribers in some locales. Then there is the X*Press computer information service offered by some other cable systems. The Internet link has the capability to be much faster than a modem; it all depends on how much bandwidth the operator reserves. With packet switching, not much bandwidth would be needed to serve multiple users, at least compared to the digitally uncompressed 6 megahertz of bandwidth needed for an ordinary TV channel. It's the return signal from your computer moving upstream which is most problematic. I haven't heard any actual user reports on Internet via computer. The company I work for installs metropolitan wide area computer networks on cable systems for institutional use by businesses and local governments. We did one cable network at Chicago O'Hare airport that had everything but the kitchen sink: Security cameras, telemetry, computer data, phones, etc. Such technology is well understood and very workable if done correctly. Running computer services over a subscriber cable network is a bit different but not grossly so.