Broadband Speed Checked by Radar [Multichannel News]
The FCC has put out a call for volunteers to test their broadband speeds in an effort to develop better metrics for measuring broadband delivery. Recently the FCC released some data regarding broadband speed from comScore that used a shaky methodology to come to the conclusion that half of broadband users weren't receiving the advertised broadband speed from their ISP. In the wake of the issues revealed by the faulty data, the FCC has changed course and is doing their own speed testing - to determine actual speeds and latency.
However, simply determining the end user's speed doesn't identify where a potential speed bump may be. The possibilities range from in the consumer's home to the server with which they are interacting -- and all the places in between. Some more sophisticated tests can show where hangups occur if they happen in the equipment between the two extreme points, but even those tests are not always conclusive.
To resolve the problem of not having easy access to accurate data, the FCC has launched www.TestMyISP.com to solicit volunteers to become testers for the Commission's broadband speed data project. Volunteers selected to become speed testers will receive equipment made by a British company called SamKnows which claims to accurately measures broadband from the origination point within the home, filtering out data collection problems like shared connections over wi-fi. As of yesterday, over 20,000 had already signed up to become volunteer broadband speed testers for the FCC.
In the meantime, last week the Commission released a survey that indicated most Internet users in the U.S. aren't at all familiar with the actual speed of their broadband, but 9 out of 10 are satisfied with their broadband speed - whatever it happens to be.
Wow. That's a really high customer satisfaction rating. Is this Federal speed testing program be another solution in search of a problem?
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