The cable industry is about to launch a new technology, DOCSIS 3.0, that will dramatically increase Internet connection speeds. The cable industry hopes that the inexpensive new technology will help it compete with telecoms like Verizon Communications Inc. that have had recent success selling TV and high-speed Internet packages. Verizon has benefited from its aggressive marketing of FiOS, its new high-performance fiber-optic network. Comcast Communications Inc. will be the first company to employ DOCSIS 3.0, beginning its upgrades in the middle of this year. Time Warner Cable Inc., Cox Communications Inc., and Charter Communications Inc. are also experimenting with the new technology. While cable's traditional business of basic video services has been stagnating, high-speed Internet service continues to be a growth area. Cable companies also hope to 'hook' consumers into buying packages of services by impressing them with one outstanding offering. While cable companies used to offer the fastest Internet connection, telecoms overtook them with even speedier connections. DOCSIS will allow cable companies to increase the speed of the connections they offer without costly upgrades to their networks. The speed of connections is likely to increase in importance, as broadband rich applications, like video downloading, grow more popular. Faster connection speeds could lead to new applications. DOCSIS does pose challenges, however, as it is time and labor intensive to switch customers over and requires that they get a new cable modem. The Telecoms will likely step up their marketing efforts in response to the move by cable companies.