Ideally, I need an estimate of the total number of Internet Service
Providers (ISP) in the United States that have business customers
(simply a count).  If info is not available on business only ISPs a
total ISP count will suffice. However, it is highly preferred that
ISP's that primarily have residential or consumer customers are
excluded or accounted for so they can be excluded from the total
number. The most recent information you can find is desired.
Information dated prior to 2004 is not useful.  Please note: I do not
need a list or ranking of these ISPs, just a total number of U.S.
ISP's (preferably ISP's that sell their service - internet access - to
businesses).  The answer needs to come from a reputable source(s) that
can be cited in a report. A link or links to article(s) or research
containing this info would be best.  Feel free to ask questions.

---

Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 24 Oct 2006 20:55 PDT

keith31...

The Internet Service List site is the only site that has a
comprehensive listing of all ISPs, and also has a list of
244 Business service providers beginning on the following
page, but the list is broken up over 49 pages of listings,
so, while I can provide you the list in the format given
on the website, I can't ethically or economically copy
and paste the contents of 50 copyrighted web pages in an
answer here:
http://www.internetservicelist.com/isp/list.asp?cid=13&w=internet-services

Let me know if this satisfies your interests. If you'd
like to reduce the question price to that which would 
make this a 5-star answer, in your mind, you can do 
that and then let me know to post what I've found as
an answer.

sublime1-ga

---

Clarification of Question by keith31-ga on 24 Oct 2006 21:47 PDT

Sublime, thanks for your input.  Again, I am NOT looking for a list or
ranking of ISPs.  I am simply looking for a number(s).  For example,
an article or piece of research that (ideally) says "There are an
estimated (number) Internet Service Providers in the United States, of
which (number) cater to businesses."  I would assume this type of
information would be derived by a research company or press
organization for the purposes of a report or article.  I do understand
the number I need may not be spelled out for me exactly as I need it. 
However, I have breifly looked at the link you provided and it appears
to primarily list ISPs that have come to their site and added their
company to the list (presumably for advertising reasons).  I can not
find anywhere on the site that says how they compile their lists
otherwise. Furthermore, I am certain the number of ISPs in the United
States that have business customers is far greater than 244.  In fact,
I was not sucessful at finding several well-known, large ISPs in their
list (Time Warner, Comcast, etc).  I will continue to research this
site and see if the number I need can be derived.  If so, I will
certainly give you some credit for the answer.  If I am missing
something on the site please feel free to correct me.

---

Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 25 Oct 2006 13:29 PDT

keith...

Thanks for your feedback. Accordingly, I was able to tailor a search
which located a pertinent report, however it is dated in 2001. The 
report is titled, '2001 Business ISPs - Service, Size, and Share', 
and is available for purchase for $2,495, and includes 5-year
forecasts. Related studies are listed at the bottom.
http://www.marketresearch.com/product/display.asp?productid=1154848&g=1

It is summarizied on this page from Global Information, Inc. which
notes:

"While there are well over 6000 ISPs (Internet Service Providers)
 offering business access services in the US, the top 10 competitors
 generated over 65% of all access revenues in 2000, according to
 market research firm, Cahners In-Stat Group. Continued economic
 challenges and decreased market capitalization will lead other
 service providers to either merge or go out of business."
http://www.gii.co.jp/press/cg8742_en.shtml


The search I used to find that was:

there are * internet service providers * business
://www.google.com/search?q=there+are+*+internet+service+providers+*+business

I've looked around quite a bit, and that seems to be the latest
and most often cited report on the number of ISPs offering business
services.

sublime1-ga

---

Clarification of Question by keith31-ga on 25 Oct 2006 18:45 PDT

Sublime, thanks for your continued efforts.  It appears that the
information I need may not be out there or is well hidden.  One of my
co-workers did find some information from 2002 about total number of
ISP's   (http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2003/fields/2152.html)
but of course that is not exactly what I need either.  That being
said, I am convinced that you have researched this as well as
expected.  Considering the actual answer I need was not found (2005 or
later), I have reduced the question price back to it's original $25.00
(down from the $40.00 I raised it to earlier today).  Given your
efforts, if you submit your last response as an answer I will close
the question and give you a 5 star with good comments.  I hope this is
acceptable to you.

keith31...

Yes, your proposal is quite acceptable. I also found a figure
for total ISPs (not restricted to business providers) that 
totalled around 7000, but, as you noted, this wasn't what 
you needed, so I didn't mention it. I'll repost my responses
here for the sake of future readers:

-----------------------------------------------------------

The Internet Service List site is the only site that has a
comprehensive listing of all ISPs, and also has a list of
244 Business service providers beginning on the following
page, but the list is broken up over 49 pages of listings,
so, while I can provide you the list in the format given
on the website, I can't ethically or economically copy
and paste the contents of 50 copyrighted web pages in an
answer here:
http://www.internetservicelist.com/isp/list.asp?cid=13&w=internet-services

---

Thanks for your feedback. Accordingly, I was able to tailor a search
which located a pertinent report, however it is dated in 2001. The 
report is titled, '2001 Business ISPs - Service, Size, and Share', 
and is available for purchase for $2,495, and includes 5-year
forecasts. Related studies are listed at the bottom.
http://www.marketresearch.com/product/display.asp?productid=1154848&g=1

It is summarizied on this page from Global Information, Inc. which
notes:

"While there are well over 6000 ISPs (Internet Service Providers)
 offering business access services in the US, the top 10 competitors
 generated over 65% of all access revenues in 2000, according to
 market research firm, Cahners In-Stat Group. Continued economic
 challenges and decreased market capitalization will lead other
 service providers to either merge or go out of business."
http://www.gii.co.jp/press/cg8742_en.shtml


The search I used to find that was:

there are * internet service providers * business
://www.google.com/search?q=there+are+*+internet+service+providers+*+business

I've looked around quite a bit, and that seems to be the latest
and most often cited report on the number of ISPs offering business
services.

-----------------------------------------------------------

I am personally very grateful for your honorable manner of 
negotiating on this question, and I'm sure you've earned
the collective respect of all active researchers.

sublime1-ga

I am confident that my question was thoroughly researched.  I would be
very comfortable posting future questions with Sublime as the
researcher. Knowing there are researchers that will dedicate adequate
time to communicating and confirming that they are answering questions
as correctly as possible is a reassurance that Google Answers is a
reputable research source.