Is your ISP cheating you?

[rsn 135]

BY ALAN HENRY AUG 3, 2011 7:30 AM3,507 15Share READER POLLDoes Your ISP Meet Its Advertised Speed Rates?

According to the 2011 Broadband Survey from the FCC, only cable and FIOS broadband providers actually meet the speeds they advertise to customers. In some cases, that makes sense, but it got us wondering: does your ISP give you the speed they advertise?

DSL can't be blamed for all of its woes: the farther away from a DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) a DSL customer is, the slower their speed, and the more people who ride the same lines. Some of the same rules apply with cable as well: the more cable subscribers you have in your vicinity and the heavier they all use the service, the slower it is for everyone. Even so, cable providers seem to be doing a better job of delivering what they promise to their customers.

Fiber, for its part, may still be riding high because it's not as available to customers in as many locations as cable or DSL. Regardless, if you're shopping for broadband and download speed is important to you, the FCC says cable and FIOS are the way to go. In fact, the report rates individual wireline carriers against their promised speed versus time of day, so it's worth a look if you're considering changing ISPs.

Do you feel you're getting the speed that you're paying for, or that your carrier promised? Let us know in the poll, and then share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

Measuring Broadband America | FCC.gov

http://lifehacker.com/5827128/does-your-isp-meet-its-advertised-speed-rates

[Harsh_77 716]

I would agree with the chart, I have used Verizion Fios(fiber) in past and it was the awesome.

Unfortunately now the area I live in I don’t have option but to go with ATT Uverse, its not the same as Fios nowhere close.

[rsn 135]

I would agree with the chart, I have used Verizion Fios(fiber) in past and it was the awesome.

Unfortunately now the area I live in I don't have option but to go with ATT Uverse, its not the same as Fios nowhere close.

I have heard good things about Verizon Fiber, but they do not service my area. I am lucky enough to have Charter though. It's fast, reliable, and cheap. I previously had fiber through another service and it was not very reliable.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I intensely dislike Time Warner cable, but I do have to admit that the speed I get surpases the speed I was supposed to get. I was originally quoted 12-15 mbps, however, 15 mbps is the slowest I have ever seen.

[rsn 135]

I intensely dislike Time Warner cable, but I do have to admit that the speed I get surpases the speed I was supposed to get. I was originally quoted 12-15 mbps, however, 15 mbps is the slowest I have ever seen.

Why do you intensely dislike a service that provides you better than promised speeds?