Should cable intenet companies be required to disclose the actual speeds they are delivering?

[Bateluer]

I'd support such a law. Won't happen though, too much money being funneled into politicians pockets from special interests for them to worry about the consumer.

 

[Reckoner]

It's comcast or nothing for me. Gotta love competition!

 

[wiredspider]

It would be "nice" but there are to many variables which would affect the speed that is out of the ISP's control. If it were mandated that speeds must be xx to yy, then every Tom, Dick, and Sally would be bitching that their speed isn't that high when trying to access their buddy's site that they host at home or some overseas server on their virus/spyware/adware infected ancient computer.

 

[child of wonder]

I'm in agreement with the OP. I'm fine with ISPs advertising "up to" speeds, but they should also make it plainly clear that many factors affect bandwidth and the "up to" number is merely a theoretical maximum plus provide an "average bandwidth over 24 hour" number available to customers so they can see, based on their address, what kind of average speeds to expect in a typical day.

This would open up a whole new competitive arena for ISPs and would only fuel competition, initiative, and progress.

 

[ScottMac]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: ScottMac
[

Both pay substantial taxes, some of which go to subsidize the network. They're paying well over "20 bucks;" it's just that a good chunk of it comes out of the worker's pockets whether they use it or not ("Europe" is a little broad, it does vary somewhat by country within the EU, doesn't it?)

Americans pay to subsidize the system too. Way too much for what we get in return.

That is not how Japan can offer broadband so cheaply. They split the system . One company supplies the infrastructure , the cable to your home. The other companies are the isp that provide the actual service. In Japan they can have 20+ competing companies trying to sell service to each home.

In the USA we need to break the system up. Let each city own its cables to the home. Then let companies compete to sell service to each home.

No, they don't. It's all private lines. The exceptions being some communities that set up their own infrastructure (and occasionally services, but that's usually contracted out).

Smaller community infrastructure is subsidized by a surcharge added to bills of the urban / higher population density areas' customers.

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: KLin
ISP's aren't the only ones to use the up to clause. Just look at B&M's doing sales. "SAVE UP TO 50% ALL WEEKEND LONG!". But that's only for a fraction of their products they're selling. It's no different with ISPs and they're not committing fraud.

With that reasoning I could by a Hyundai that advertises "up to 100 miles per gallon" since it does get a hundred miles per gallon if it's going all down hill.
Wait, there's a law that specifies how mpg is rated and advertised.

All your analogies fail when the technology and contracts hit the road. Want the bandwidth and guarantee, then pay for it.

I never said I want that. I want an HONEST answer to the question of how much speed I will get if I buy their product.

This. If the only service you are capable of providing 90% of the time is 3mb spidey, then advertise at 3mb, not 15. Sure sustained 15 might cost me 3 grand a month, but don't advertise a lie, don't piss on my foot and tell me its raining.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: evident
stereos still advertise ridiculous wattages. over 10000 watt subwoofer omfg!!!

they do say PMPO... not their fault consumer can't read

 

[Oceandevi]

what is this intenet?!!!

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: spidey07
And that's just the nature of consumer broadband because prices are so low. They can't guarantee anything.

I'm only paying $80 a month, how much money do you guys fucking want. Stop spewing that garbage it's tiresome.

 

[TwiceOver]

Painfully obvious that the majority of atoters don't have a clue what internet really costs the cable companies.