FCC Finds 68 percent of U.S. Broadband... Isn't

[groveborn]

Traditionally "broadband" is "digital" while "baseband" is analog. Dial-up is baseband technology. It doesn't matter what speed it is, broadband is any digital signal. "Broadband Internet" may be defined by speeds, though.

 

[rdhood]

The FCC study almost exactly mirrors my ISP's speeds... windstream. I have 5/3 service and get about 3/0.5 It normally doesn't come close to even HALF the advertised-and-paid-for speeds. On top of that, I have to pay for a phone line as well (DSL). But my ONLY choice of broadband provider is Windstream Communications, so I live with it.

 

[maestintaolius]

I really wish they'd start allowing actual competition between cable companies. Everywhere I've ever lived there was only ONE cable provider and they took advantage of that fact.

 

[Parrdacc]

[citation][nom]__-_-_-__[/nom]this really surprises me... I never imagine USA would be so far behind compared to other countries... 6 years ago I remember I had a 50mbps connection, since 1year and an half I've 1gbps up and down.[/citation]

Yeah, here in the U.S. it has been no real secret that when it comes to overall internet speed that we have consistently been behind other countries. It has been a while since I looked and don't quote me on this, but I think on average we rank somewhere between 15-17 in rankings world wide. Course that depends on which report you read, either way it is pretty pathetic.

 

[servarus]

At least you all got it all nice. I'm paying $31 for 6GB bandwidth and speed between 1-7.2 Mbps in my country. I usually get 2Mbps. And after the bandwidth is finished, I need to face a 64kbps speed until my next billing cycle

 

[Tedders]

I like my 32Mbps down and 2Mbps up. My total cable bill with internet, HDTV and some premium channels is under $100/mo.

 

[zilnicra]

this doesn't surprise me, however i'm very glad to have fios available to me, range was 20-30 Mb/s down and 10-20 Mb/s up. and ping... pretty much non existant. and for all of you who don't have fios available in your area, im dreadfully sorry. cable in the area is about 10 Mb/s down and 2 Mb/s up

 

[igot1forya]

For me, $45/month = 3Mb/down-768Kb/up via a Wireless DSL (point-to-point wireless) out in the rurals of Illinois. When I lived in town, I had Comcast and was getting 33Mb/down-3Mb/up for $80/month... how I miss those days.

 

[fuzzyplankton]

[citation][nom]hellwig[/nom]I get 12mb down/1mb up here in Iowa, so I can't complain, but that's with cable. Couple years ago when I tried DSL, it was 256kb down, thats EDGE speeds over a physical line, pathetic.[/citation]
Bend broadband here has a cap a 100GB with a speed of 8mbs to 20mbs with the option to get the 90mbs speed with a 150GB cap. Then the charge $1.50 per Meg after. Does that make sense. That should not be legal because there killing of sites like net flixs and hulu so then can get people to buy there cable shows or Pay per view.

 

[ntrceptr]

Another comment. I was only getting 7-8 Mbps (10 mbps service plan) and opt'd to pay more for for the ISPs 15 Mbps plan. When i first changed it actually got slower down to about 4Mbps. The ISP gave me the usual excuse..."We dont gaurentee our speeds". So after researching myself i found the new modem didn't recognize my router properly. It negotiated 10Mbps/ Half duplex with the new modem (linksys 8 port wired only router). When i took the router out and direct connected My speeds went up to 22Mbps. So in the end i Bought a new D-Link gamers lounge router which the modem detected properly 100Mbps full duplex, which is my modems max. Most modems can be accessed via http://192.168.100.1

 

[masop]

I suppose I can't complain here in the Washington DC Metro Area. I've got Verizon FIOS and am paying for 35Mb/35Mb service, though I'm actually receiving 50Mb/30Mb for around $65 (maybe less with the bundle discount) per month. I can tap out that downstream easily whenever I choose to via usenet. I can get 46.7Mbps or 5.7MBps off of usenet on a nearly consistent basis. It takes about 25 min for a typical 8GB DL DVD or x264 1080p Bluray release, or about an hour for a 20GB download. I do agree, most that I know are getting little for alot, especially with DSL service. Comcast (cable) isn't too bad, but is still not the best deal or the most effecient and reliable service. RCN (cable) has limited coverage, but is fast where the service is available. I highly recommened Verizon FIOS for anyone who can get the service and especially for us download demons. LOL

 

[liquidchild]

Mine has never got over 1.5 Mbps and i pay for the RR turbo up to 15Mbps..i run speed tests and it says im getting 5 down 1 up..what the heck is that BS?

 

[Startingline13]

I love how the government wastes my money by having the FCC investigate the fact that broadband is in fact.....not broadband.

Based on the speeds I've been receiving on Long Island and in Manhattan from Time Warmer for the past 10 years, I could have told you that.

 

[jhcruser]

At my Apt in downtown Houston the fastest internet that money can buy is 2.5 MB!!! and .35 MB upload! No more online backups for me!

 

[kelemvor4]

 

[zenmaster]

GIGO.
3Mbs/1Mbs is actually perfectly fine for most people.

If you are not using NetFlix or similar VOD stuff, performance should not be an issue.

It definitely does not hinder people in the ability to use internet for basic needs such as research, education, etc...
(This in reference to normal needs for the Average Joe, not University Reasearch stuff.)

 

[kelemvor4]

[citation][nom]Hunter844[/nom]I pay 40 bucks a month and usually after 6pm each night I can't play youtube clips because the system is over flooded...this is after they've done their major upgrade in the area. You can forget about streaming Netflix.Suddenlink...Cabot,AR[/citation]
Perhaps you have comcast? http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/14/1335235/Comcast-Accused-of-Congestion-By-Choice

 

[chickenhoagie]

what I find most pathetic is not what my ISP provides to me, but rather what companies worldwide are being provided..Its one thing to say I have a fast connection of 18Mbps download and 1.5Mbps upload, but if a file I'm trying to download off the internet is being hosted by some company with a terrible broadband connection, it makes my download speed kinda useless.

 

[cmcghee358]

 

[JDFan]

Can't complain here -- We pay $45 a month for unlimited 12Mb\s downstream and 1.5Mb\s upstream and usually average 11.5+\1.4+ (current test on speedtest came back 11.58Mbs\1.45Mbs) so very close to the advertised rate on AT&T Uverse (was paying $65 a month for 18\2 but found I rarely needed more than the 12\1.5 so cut back to save the $20\month)

 

[scook9]

[citation][nom]chickenhoagie[/nom]what I find most pathetic is not what my ISP provides to me, but rather what companies worldwide are being provided..Its one thing to say I have a fast connection of 18Mbps download and 1.5Mbps upload, but if I'm trying to download a game from steam and its only downloading at 700kbps-1mbps, then there is something terribly wrong with that picture. Perhaps I am misunderstood, but according to what my ISP tells me I'm getting, and what speedtest.net results me with, I don't think im misunderstood at all.[/citation]
I have 8Mbps (note: bits) and get 1 MB/s (bytes) from Steam....so I would say something else is your problem.

I have verified with Speedtest.net that I do have 8 Mbps (usually closer to 9). This is the cheapest plan Fios has in my area.

 

[itchyisvegeta]

If this is false advertising, then get a class action lawsuit together and sue the crap out of the ISPs. I will be the first one in line on board. What the heck do we need the FCC for screwing it up? They did wonders for Howard Stern.

 

[chickenhoagie]

I have 8Mbps (note: bits) and get 1 MB/s (bytes) from Steam....so I would say something else is your problem.

I have verified with Speedtest.net that I do have 8 Mbps (usually closer to 9). This is the cheapest plan Fios has in my area.

Sorry, actually edited my post cuz I was reading Mbps instead of reading it actually said 2MBps but besides the point, as i posted its the other FTP servers who have low bandwidth compared to steam whose broadband is great enough to satisfy my own connection.

 

[Guest]

Pitiable speeds. Here in Lithuania for 20 bucks a month you get 20 mbps up/down(of course without caps), and for 40 - 80 mbps

 

[kinggraves]

This isn't new info, everyone knows that US networks are far below standard. The issue is clear to see too, just from the comments here alone, "I only have X service in my area". The major US ISPs own the lines and their hands are in each others pockets so there's no competition whatsoever. The same parent corporations own the cable, telco, and cellular providers.

Now a lot of people say the FCC should step in and bust some heads. Well that would be nice in the short term, but do you really want the government to have control over the internet in the long term? Once the government starts meddling with utilities, it's quite difficult to get them to stop. (I do wish they'd at least force some real competition here though)

Remember, you're the consumer in a capitalist nation. If you don't like your service, send them a message with your wallet. Unfortunately a lot of people aren't willing to give up their internet to prove their point, so it's hard to really affect their sales enough to force their compliance. As a poster above stated, call in, complain, make them come out and check your lines constantly until you get the minimum speed your service promises. If all else fails, try America's favorite pastime, threaten legal action.