FCC Relying On Faulty ISP Performance Data 89
alphadogg writes "The FCC recently used speed test results from comScore as an absolute indicator of specific ISPs' performance. Consulting firm NetForecast analyzed comScore's testing methodology and data to assess whether it accurately reflects broadband ISP performance, and to assess the appropriateness of using the data to reach general conclusions about the actual performance ISPs deliver to their subscribers. NetForecast uncovered problems on both counts. They found that the effective service speeds comScore reports are low by a large margin (PDF) because its data calculations under-report performance and place many subscribers in a higher performance tier than they purchased."
Re:Wait for ACK? (Score:4, Informative)
by the way, I'm not in the U.S., I actually get what I pay for.
You might have worded that a little bit better. Canada and Australia have worse broadband networks than the US does. Most US users on DSL get what they pay for. Cable networks may or may not deliver the promised performance at all hours, but that's simply the nature of the beast. In my area Time Warner provides 10MBit/s service on a DOCSIS 1.1 network. That means that just four customers are enough to max out a node that serves dozens to hundreds of customers.
Re:FCC is faulty? (Score:3, Informative)
US Code Title 47, Chapter 5, Subchapter I, Section 151:
For the purpose of regulating interstate and foreign commerce in communication by wire and radio so as to make available, so far as possible, to all the people of the United States, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex, a rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges, for the purpose of the national defense, for the purpose of promoting safety of life and property through the use of wire and radio communications, and for the purpose of securing a more effective execution of this policy by centralizing authority heretofore granted by law to several agencies and by granting additional authority with respect to interstate and foreign commerce in wire and radio communication, there is created a commission to be known as the “Federal Communications Commission”, which shall be constituted as hereinafter provided, and which shall execute and enforce the provisions of this chapter.
Re:Wait for ACK? (Score:3, Informative)
Course my Zipcode has 10MB charter available in it. Of course, thats the homes right around the golf course. And the only ones that have cable. The rest of us get either Satellite, 3G, or Wisp coverage that is spotty, and drops alot. But according to the FCC, I have high speed available, since those houses on the golf course have it, and were all in the same zip code.
And I live a few miles from a very large town. So if the majority of the EU is at 7.8Mb/s and they have access to that, I think its awesome. I have 600k\s. I pay $50/month for that, and feel lucky.