EMBARGOED UNTIL: 12:01 A.M. EDT, JUNE 15, 1998 (MONDAY) Public Information Office CB98-100 301-457-3030/301-457-3670 (fax) 301-457-4067 (TDD) e-mail: pio@census.gov Jeff Barnett 301-457-2823 Communications Industry's Revenues Surpass $322 Billion In 1996, Census Bureau Reports The nation's communications industry continued its boom in 1996, with revenues of more than $322 billion, an increase of 11 percent over 1995. The industry's expenses were up, too, by 8 percent to $260 billion, according to data released today by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau. The embargoed tabulations can be accessed at http://www.census.gov/dcmd/www/embargo/embargo.html. After the release time, the data can be accessed at http://www.census.gov/ftp/pub/svsd/www/ascs.html. The following findings are for selected industry groups for 1995 to 1996: Cable and Other Pay Television Services - Revenues received by cable and other television pay services showed an increase of 14 percent to $38 billion. - Basic service revenue subscription fees received from residential and commercial customers for basic television cable services increased 14 percent to $19 billion. Radio and Television Broadcasting Services for Taxable Firms - Revenue of radio and television broadcasting services increased 9 percent to $38 billion. Expenses were up 10 percent to $31 billion in 1996. - Broadcast television, with $28 billion in revenue a 9 percent increase from 1995, comprised three-fourths of the radio and television broadcasting-industry group's total revenues. Telephone Communication Businesses - Revenues from cellular and other radio telephone services continued to grow, increasing by 25 percent to $29 billion. - Overall, the telephone communications industry showed $238 billion in revenues, an increase of 10 percent, while expenses were $192 billion, an increase of 7 percent. The Internet tables also include data on operating expenses from 1989 to 1996 for the various industry groups. The estimates from the 1996 Annual Survey of Communication Services are subject to sampling and nonsampling error. Sources of nonsampling error include errors of response, non-reporting and coverage. Measures of sampling variability, presented as relative standard errors, are shown in the tables.-X-Editor's Note: The Public Information Office now has a media-access server for embargoed news releases and data sets. It is available to accredited media representatives only. To gain access, please contact us for a username and password. The media-access server's Internet address is <http://www.census.gov/dcmd/www/embargo/embargo.html>. We would appreciate any comments you may have about the site. The Census Bureau--preeminent collector and provider of timely, relevant, and quality data about the people and economy of the United States. In over 100 surveys annually and 20 censuses a decade, evolving from the first census in 1790, the Census Bureau provides official information about America's people, businesses, industries, and institutions.
