How Fast Is Fast Enough?
When I saw recently that the FCC defines broadband as anything over 200 kbps, many of us were kind of puzzled. While those kinds of speeds may have been plenty adequate back in the pre-YouTube internet of streaming video everywhere, it's downright pathetic these days.
So, I was pleased to read that now broadband got defined as 768 kbps or better. This move seems long overdue.
I can also tell you that I happen to have DSL from Verizon that has a 768 kbps download speed (the image above is my DSL across a wireless connection). Is it fast enough? The answer is kind of. For doing email, it's fine. Ditto for light web surfing. I can also stream video from ABC, FOX and Hulu with no problem. However, on some less compressed options, such as video on NBC, or Joost, I have minor to severe bandwidth issues. All of this assumes that I'm not multitasking or this all falls apart and grinds to a screeching halt.
Personally, I'd like more bandwidth, and will get it at some point. Even the Fios lowest tier speed of 5 mbps (I think that's the area I'm in, it might be 10) is a heck of a lot faster. For now it takes a significant bandwidth commitment to download a larger program (even OpenOffice which is around 100 megs can take over 20 minutes) over DSL, so I choose downloads wisely.
I've used dialup, and compared to that, my DSL is light years ahead. I'd just like to remind our FCC that 768 kbps is a minimum for broadband, and as a nation, they should shoot for better, especially in urban and suburban areas. After all, who wants to be at the poverty level for their broadband download speed?
Jonas
So, I was pleased to read that now broadband got defined as 768 kbps or better. This move seems long overdue.
I can also tell you that I happen to have DSL from Verizon that has a 768 kbps download speed (the image above is my DSL across a wireless connection). Is it fast enough? The answer is kind of. For doing email, it's fine. Ditto for light web surfing. I can also stream video from ABC, FOX and Hulu with no problem. However, on some less compressed options, such as video on NBC, or Joost, I have minor to severe bandwidth issues. All of this assumes that I'm not multitasking or this all falls apart and grinds to a screeching halt.
Personally, I'd like more bandwidth, and will get it at some point. Even the Fios lowest tier speed of 5 mbps (I think that's the area I'm in, it might be 10) is a heck of a lot faster. For now it takes a significant bandwidth commitment to download a larger program (even OpenOffice which is around 100 megs can take over 20 minutes) over DSL, so I choose downloads wisely.
I've used dialup, and compared to that, my DSL is light years ahead. I'd just like to remind our FCC that 768 kbps is a minimum for broadband, and as a nation, they should shoot for better, especially in urban and suburban areas. After all, who wants to be at the poverty level for their broadband download speed?
Jonas
Labels: internet access, internet service provider
posted by digitaldoc at 9:49 PM
2 Comments:
Have you looked into upgrading your DSL to the 3mbps speed? I have the 3meg down and 768k up speeds and havent had a problem. I actually get better responses and download seed than most of the cable modems around here (oversaturated cable lines are slowing everything down to a crawl at times on local cable ;) ).
Didnt know if you have the 3mbps available where you live or not. I think mine is around $30 a month.
Mike
I want FIOS also, but it seems the way they are rolling it out, it might be 2050 till it gets here.
I have Fios in my area, so it doesn't pay to upgrade to faster DSL. I think stand alone Fios by me is $40/mo so when I move up it will be all the way.
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