"This includes wire for video, which is the coax wire, and that runs the cable television on it. (And) a data line, which runs data to the upstairs as well as the telephone, " home technology consultant George Ide said.

CNN: The house of the future is here today

Meanwhile, data for May has shown copper and wire cable shipments rising 18% year on year to the construction sector, although down 21% to the auto sector.

FORBES: Market Nuggets: Record Set Monday For Open Interest In Nymex Platinum Options

The U.S. Attorney's Office now blames six ex-Anicom executives for sinking the former Rosemont, Ill. distributor of cable, wire, networking and fiber-optic parts.

FORBES: Follow-Through

It's also providing copper cable networks for the "last mile" of installed wire from central switches to homes and businesses, and products that help increase bandwidth, maintain signal integrity and optimize wavelength.

FORBES: Minnesota Mining & Catchall

Whether it's phone wire used for dial-up and digital subscriber lines (DSL), or the coaxial cables that carry cable modem connections, these connections are a bottleneck between the carrier's big pipes and your bandwidth-starved computer.

FORBES