Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Broadband Speed and the Consumer

How much speed are you buying in your current broadband package and are you getting what you pay for? The FCC recently released the results of a national survey that shows just how large the information gap is when it comes to broadband. According to this survey, fully 80 percent of Americans with broadband at home don't know what speed they're getting. The survey was done through a major firm and drew on a national sample of three thousand consumers. The survey found that fifty percent of fixed broadband customers were very satisfied with their service overall, and forty-one percent were somewhat satisfied. Only six percent were "not too" satisfied, and three percent were not satisfied at all.

In order to get the best service at the best value, consumers first need to understand what broadband speed they need for the applications they want to run. If you only do email and some light Web surfing, you really only need the minimum package offered. For the heavier user who might be streaming a movie on occasion or who has children in the house sharing a connection, a middle level of service might be more appropriate. And if you are a serious gamer or like to stream HD quality movie, can you get enough bandwidth?

If you think that you have the right level of service but it doesn’t seem to do everything you think it should, you might have a problem with your equipment. For example, your router might be slowing things up. If you have multiple computers on your home, test each one. Sometimes, the version of software or virus protection may be at fault. And, if you have a wireless router, be sure to secure it with a password so “hitchhikers” don’t use it for free and in the process, use your bandwidth. Also, it is important to keep your anti-virus program current. Viruses and other automated “malware” can be using your bandwidth as well as compromising your computer’s security.

In addition, broadband service providers need to advertise their speeds in clear terms, and consumers need to be assured that the speeds they actually receive match what's advertised. Broadband delivered via a cable modem or through fiber optics tend to maintain their advertised speeds throughout the system. Other systems tend to become slower as you move away from the central office or transmitting tower. If you have any questions about your service, contact your provider. They are there to help.

Great new services will be coming on the Internet. Don’t be left out. If you are not currently on the Internet and would like to be, contact a local provider for classes and services to help you learn more.
By Richard Sjoberg, President of Sjoberg's Inc.

1 comment:

  1. Dick, nice post. And you are absolutely right about the need for providers to advertise in a more clear and understandable way. I think this comes from the fact that many broadband providers have a legacy that carries over from the days of the regulated monopolies.

    Simply put, when people moved to town and needed telephone or video services it was mostly their responsibility to find the local providers. As a result, most of the local telephone and cable providers were not terribly sophisticated in their marketing strategies.

    So now when these marketing skills are needed the most, some providers are not quite up to speed.

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