[GRLUG] Broadband delivered versus broadband paid for

[Bob Kline]

http://www.broadband.gov/qualitytest/about/

The FCC is starting to look at the US
broadband situation.  Pretty clearly,
most of us get about 50% of the bandwidth
we think we are paying for.  The key
concept seems to be the ISP's cavaet
"up to."  More like "up yours,"  it seems to
mean that only at about 5:30AM, on a
Sunday morning, will you ever see the
"up to" value that you pay for.

So, in effect, broadband is a lot more
expensive than it superficially appears
to be.  speedtest.net is also looking in to
the issue.  But I've found the FCC test to
be more in line with what I pay for.  So
I'm wondering whether the speed testing
services of many sites are overwhelmed.
I'm tempted to hope that they would
surely know this.

Try speedtest.net, and find the Grand
Rapids test site.  Even with no distance
involved, I find the download rate to be
way off.  Most test sites seem to do
better on the upload rates.

But of course this is the issue.  There
is a great deal of confusion out there,
and ISPs can hide behind this, while
charging for speeds that mostly a
fiction.

    -- Bob
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