Broadband.gov Benchmarks

I recommend that we move from measuring broadband performance (download and upload speeds) from "advertised" performance an ISP provides an end-user to "actual" performance at PEAK times that an ISP provides an end-user. While the end-users' true performance will vary based on a number of other issues (back-end connections, devices, etc) there are methods today to accurately track and measure the "actual" performance,... more »

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) should include implementation plans.

The Administration should establish a cabinet-level interagency task force to execute the NBP throughout executive branch departments and agencies. Modeled on the Information Infrastructure Task Force, this task force should be made up of highlevel representatives of federal agencies, including the Office of Management and Budget, in coordination... more »

The National Broadband Plan should direct the Office of Management and Budget to issue an annual report on the status of the execution of the NBP, with recommendations for additional steps and funding to ensure that the NBP realizes its goals.

Please be aware when reviewing your broadband.gov results that Comcast's PowerBoost is significantly inflating their customers' results to Comcast's advantage.

Tune the broadband test to get actual download and upload speeds, as with technologies like 'PowerBoost' (which increases the speed dramatically only for the first 20 megabytes or so) will greatly inflate true download speeds.

If you only use third-party testing suites like Ookla, you won't be getting the true download speed and/or capacity which users actually experience. Other than simple buffering, what good is reporting... more »

The United States invented the Internet, so lets become number one again for what we created! Americans like to think we are #1 for a lot of things, but Internet is not one of them. We rank (as of Jan 21, 2010) 29th in the world for download speeds and 30th for upload speeds according to real-world results provided by Speedtest.net (Results can be found at http://speedtest.net/global.php with an American IP address).... more »

I would like to point out a problem with the bandwidth test provided on this website. The download file size is too small; my ISP temporarily boosts an individual’s bandwidth for file sizes less than 10 MB. The number provided by this bandwidth test is inflated two to this “power boost” feature. The easy solution is to have the test download a larger file size. Thanks

The way to make net neutrality issues go away is to create benchmarks and standards for oversubscription, packet loss, packet jitter and latency. By managing providers to specific and measurable quantities it will force a reinforcement of the entire infrastructure. Right now all the payment and all the emphasis is on access bit rates. If we are smart, we will manage the system from end to end so that the congestion... more »

Upload and download speeds should be equal and at least 100m otherwise it will be obsolete in 10 years. Wireless should be the way to go.