Comcast has nearly doubled the maximum download speed of its high-speed Internet network, giving the company an edge in the fight for broadband customers.

Steve Kipp, a spokesman at Comcast’s regional office in Bothell, said most subscribers to the cable company’s Internet service in Snohomish County can see download speeds of up to 3 megabits per second.

That’s more than 50 times faster than a standard 56-kilobit dial-up connection. At 3 megabits per second, downloading a 15-song CD takes only about three minutes, according to Comcast.

The faster download speed gives Comcast an advantage in the battle between DSL and cable broadband services.

"It’s really about us wanting to add value to the service," Kipp said. "Speed is the name of the game, and we find that people are demanding faster connections."

Previously, download speeds on Comcast’s cable network topped out at about 1.5 megabits per second.

The increased speed comes at no additional cost to Comcast’s broadband Internet subscribers and requires no special upgrade. Customers only need to reset their cable modems.

"People just have to unplug it," Kipp said.

After unplugging their cable modems and waiting at least 60 seconds, subscribers should have faster speeds as soon as their modems are plugged in again.

Upload speeds on Comcast’s network remain at 256 kilobits per second, Kipp added.

Even before Comcast officially announced the higher speeds this week, local subscribers noted it on broadband message boards. At broadbandreports.com, users of Comcast’s cable Internet service in Lynnwood, Brier and Bothell have reported faster speeds over the past few weeks.

Comcast, which claims 5 million high-speed Internet subscribers nationwide, began upgrading download speeds across the country late last year. Kipp said an even faster broadband service aimed at business customers will be available in the near future.

In Snohomish County, the two largest providers of broadband access are Comcast and Verizon, which offers digital subscriber line service. DSL download speeds top out at 1.5 megabits per second, but the price also is lower.

Verizon’s DSL service starts at $34.95 a month, compared with $45.95 a month for Comcast’s broadband service. The Comcast price includes the cost of a rented cable modem.

Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.