In a related news item: as hard economic times threaten the longevity of DSL providers, cable Internet providers are exploiting the situation to extend their lead over the rival technology. An article on CNN.com notes that there are 4.7 million cable subscribers in the US, compared with 2.2 million DSL subscribers. However, given the deep pockets of some phone companies currently offering DSL, cable’s continued success may not be a sure thing.