FCC Definition for Broadband now 768Kbps
According to the FCC, the term “broadband” now means 768Kbps, up from the previous definition of 200Kbps. Under the new definition, “basic broadband” defines download speeds between 768Kbps and 1.5Mbps. Other changes in how subscribers are reported includes a breakdown of upload and download speed and additional gradations of speed. News dot COM notes that “ISPs will not have to report the prices they charge, yet.”
For comparison’s sake, an average movie download is 700 MB (5872025600 bits), and would take 8.16 hours to download under the old broadband definition at 200Kbps. However, at the new faster rate of 768Kbps, an American with basic broadband will be able to download a movie in just 2.12 hours.
Broadband reporting is a problem for America, because up till now we could only point to useless studies indicating that 12.5% of internet users are still on 56.6k or worse speeds. Once politicians and the industry realizes how bad broadband penetration in the US really is, we’ll see better internet service and connectivity.
| This entry was posted on Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 at 3:31 pm and is tagged with speed news, gradations, download speeds, download speed, fcc, internet users, 6k, connectivity, politicians, sake, penetration, internet service, broadband, subscribers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback. |
It’s good that they are finally updating their definition. I mean 200 kbps is no broadband in my book. I couldn’t survive without my T1 line.
This is a test of WP Hashcash’s normal mode.