AOL, Ameritech Sign DSL Pact

America Online, Inc. and Ameritech this week formed a strategic alliance to provide broadband digital subscriber line services to AOL members in five states.

As part of a multi-year agreement, Ameritech will accelerate installation of asymmetric digital subscriber line technology into phone switching centers that will serve 8 million homes by the end of 2001.

America Online will use Ameritech's commercial DSL service to offer high-speed access to AOL members in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.

The companies also announced that they would join in a cable modem trial later this year in the Chicago area. The multiple Internet Service Provider field tests are designed to demonstrate that technology exists to make consumer choice feasible.

Bob Pittman, AOL president and chief operating, AOL is committed to finding new ways to offer members high-speed access options.

"By partnering with telecommunications leaders like Ameritech, and exploring all means of access, we are delivering on the promise of the interactive medium and helping to make broadband access a reality for the mass market consumer."

With the Ameritech deal inked, AOL's can currently provide broadband access to about 55 percent of all U.S. households.