FCC: Actual Broadband Speeds Lag Behind Advertised Speeds
A new FCC report uncovers a large gap between advertised broadband speeds and what Americans actually experience at home.
According to the report, actual download speeds in the U.S. lag advertised speeds by roughly 50 percent. Computer performance, home network set-up and the unpredictability of the Internet are cited as drivers of the broadband speed gap.
Correcting the gaping performance gap is important because advertised speed is often the only data metric consumers use to make broadband service choices.
The findings may help the FCC move closer to providing regulatory oversight of broadband speed advertising that would require ISPs to detail the factors that contribute to the actual speed consumers can expect to experience.
The National Broadband Plan calls on the FCC to work with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and consumer and industry groups to develop broadband measurement standards to address this issue.
The Communications Workers of America and Speed Matters call for actual broadband speeds to be reported instead of current 'up to' advertised speeds
Curious what your actual broadband speed is? Take the Speedmatters Speed Test.
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