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Cable: If You Ignore Half the Country, US Broadband Awesome!

For years there has been a concerted push by the broadband industry to try and insist that the United States broadband market is secretly flawless, awesome and highly competitive, despite the fact that absolutely every independent source of broadband data (from Akamai and the FCC to the OECD and OOkla's Net Index) suggests we're absolutely and utterly mediocre at every metric that counts.

Click for full size
That's not to say we're not improving in some very select regions (thanks to things like Google Fiber, Verizon FiOS and DOCSIS 3.0), but overall we're quite indisputably, utterly average when it comes to broadband worldwide -- especially on price.

If you've been following our coverage of cable's growing dominance of fixed-line broadband as companies like Verizon and AT&T exit huge swaths of the market, things are about to get significantly worse in many states.

The latest effort by the cable industry to convince the public the status quo is working just fine comes courtesy of a website calling itself The Connectivist. The Connectivist this week unveiled this handy infographic that plucks out the country's fastest states, compares them to the world's fastest countries, then pats us all on the back for a job well done.

By plucking out only the fastest, smaller states and ignoring the rest (and omitting price entirely), the website gets to show us how awesome US broadband really is. Why, look at pathetic Taiwan sitting there at eleventh place with an average peak speed of 58.2 Mbps! Ha ha, lame Taiwan.

But the Consumerist's Chris Morran does a nice job highlighting that not only is this new Connectivist "magazine" run by the cable industry, but they're comparing apples to walnuts when it comes to progress:

quote:
The only way to do a true apples to apples comparison would be to look at the data for areas with similar conditions, including population size and area, which the Connectivist doesn’t do. The site simply glosses over the fact that while broadband in the U.S. is improving, it’s still not a world leader in deploying high-speed Internet access to its citizens.
As FCC boss Tom Wheeler recently notes, three quarters of American homes have no competition at speeds of 25 Mbps or higher. That's before you even get into pricing data, which provides such a stark illustration of the lack of US competition, that the industry has long lobbied successfully to keep the FCC from revealing it. Continues Morran:
quote:
Even though nearly three-quarters of the U.S. has access to what the FCC currently defines as “broadband,” meaning at least 4Mbps downstream, that’s still not a high enough percentage to get it into the top 10 globally. In fact, that percentage barely puts the U.S. in the 40 of all nations. Likewise, only 39% of Americans have access to 10 Mbps service, which is what many people now consider the minimum acceptable standard for broadband. That ranks higher, putting the U.S. within the top 15 worldwide, but still pales in comparison to world leaders like Sweden (56%), the Netherlands (52%), and Romania (50%).
In short, if you remove the ugliest bits from any data comparison, it's fairly easy to make anything look perfectly healthy. That's not to dismiss the progress being made by companies and municipalities everywhere, but the cable industry's agenda has long been to defend a status quo of limited competition, high prices and poor customer service by trying to convince an uninformed public just how good they really have it.

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Zenit_IIfx
The system is the solution
Premium Member
join:2012-05-07
Purcellville, VA
·Comcast XFINITY

1 recommendation

Zenit_IIfx

Premium Member

VA #2

Not a suprise that VA got #2. Dont be fooled. The small (compared to whole state) VZ FIOS deployment + large Comcast DOCSIS3 and Cox DOCSIS3 footprints help bump this average way up. Many areas of the state have 0 wireline choices, or just DSL or some small cable MSO. (MetroCast is pretty decent though)

To give a good example of how bipolar it can be: the southwestern corner of Loudoun has 0 broadband choices, no DSL, no Cable, no FTTH. Only very bad WISPs or Cell - the avg. speed there is below 200kbps. The eastern side of the county is blazing fast with dense FIOS and Cable build outs.

Of course things look great when you look at the avg. and ignore areas suffering from decaying infrastructure. Big numbers bump up the avg. significantly...
FactChecker
Premium Member
join:2008-06-03

FactChecker

Premium Member

Lies, damned lies, and statistics

Anyone can spin all data sources to either say we are "mediocre" or "doing well". The Ookla map does a pretty good job visualizing geography size (showing states vs country views), but not as much density.

»www.netindex.com/download/map

Faster broadband is like money... Some are never satisfied and are jealous of the ones that have more than them.

Zenit_IIfx
The system is the solution
Premium Member
join:2012-05-07
Purcellville, VA

1 recommendation

Zenit_IIfx

Premium Member

Re: Lies, damned lies, and statistics

Even the presence of big money does not promise the presence of fast broadband.

I do think that areas stuck with avg. speeds underneath 1mbit need help. Thats worse than third world countries.

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt

Premium Member

Re: Lies, damned lies, and statistics

said by Zenit_IIfx:

I do think that areas stuck with avg. speeds underneath 1mbit need help.

The US started later on a much bigger project then many of the leaders.
Also how we finance it (US mostly private funds, vs large public expenditures in the VERY highly taxed European countries)
our service fees stay high because we are repaying the interest on the private investment vs income tax exceeding 50% and value add taxes around 25% on the products themselves.
In the US we grumble over income tax in the 20's% range and sales tax of 10% or less in most places.

The really good thing that both Akamai and Ookla do show is the rate of change in the US is faster than ever before anywhere, and the ultimate speed available will likely be higher then those early adoptor countries and more and more states/locations in the US will exceed the speeds seen in most countries each year.
Not being #1 TODAY is not a problem, not aiming for the top 5-10 tomorrow would be.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK

Premium Member

Re: Lies, damned lies, and statistics

The effect Google Fiber has had in the USA is remarkable. For all extents and purposes, Google Fiber is irrelevant in terms of it's customer footprint and current number of subscribers...... However, in terms of PERCEPTION and Public appearance, it's effect has been massive---- many, many times greater the return. Thanks to Google "GB" is now the brass ring. While our overall coverage remains sketchy, our pricing bad, and our competition situation lousy, average speeds are increasing as various providers upgrade and reach for that brass ring.

cheapGig
@188.138.17.x

cheapGig

Anon

Re: Lies, damned lies, and statistics

Click for full size
quisp65
join:2003-05-03
San Diego, CA

1 recommendation

quisp65

Member

They are correct in a sense

Many things affect broadband deployment, but the argument is often simplified into irrelevant statistics, the arrogant idea that the US should #1 in everything, and arguments that seek emotion and toy at hatred for the rich and powerful.

I think the US is doing about what is expected. Are there some better ideas out there? Sure! Lets discuss them on their merits.

unrealq
@162.218.67.x

unrealq

Anon

Re: They are correct in a sense

said by quisp65:

Many things affect broadband deployment, but the argument is often simplified into irrelevant statistics, the arrogant idea that the US should #1 in everything, and arguments that seek emotion and toy at hatred for the rich and powerful.

Broadband speeds are a great political distraction from...

• Abysmal roads and bridges infrastructure
• Income divide
• Climate change
• Government wasted spend and deficits
• Government lack of cooperation

and most important... Our world rankings on education

Perhaps all this energy towards driving an even bigger binge watching infrastructure will help people forget about the really important issues.

Can we spend a little more energy worring about educating the next generation so THEY don't make this the most important topic for our country?

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt

Premium Member

Re: They are correct in a sense

said by unrealq :

Can we spend a little more energy worring about educating the next generation so THEY don't make this the most important topic for our country?

Broadband can help that somewhat (provide the tools, they'll still need to find motivation) so it is important, but not more so then
said by unrealq :


%u2022 Abysmal roads and bridges infrastructure
%u2022 Income divide
%u2022 Climate change

We'll need to commit as a country to the cost and higher taxes fixing ALL that while trying to avoid more of that
said by unrealq :

...
%u2022 Government wasted spend and deficits
%u2022 Government lack of cooperation


Xioden
Premium Member
join:2008-06-10
Monticello, NY

2 recommendations

Xioden

Premium Member

Re: They are correct in a sense

Or they could cut defense spending by 10%, still be spending more than the next 10 or so countries combined, and have ~$60,000,000,000 a year to spend on things like infrastructure! But that might actually make sense, so of course it wouldn't happen.

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt

Premium Member

Re: They are correct in a sense

said by Xioden:

and have ~$60,000,000,000 a year to spend on things like infrastructure!

Or borrow at bit less from the next generation, there are more things to spend it on then there are dollars in circulation.
the problem is agreeing on a common goal
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

2 recommendations

Kearnstd to Xioden

Premium Member

to Xioden
we could cut defense by 50% and still be outspending most of the world.

And that would free up a shitload of cash for infrastructure, health, education, big science like NASA and the NSF. Things that actually make America better.
RustyDonut
join:2013-05-28
Boston, MA

RustyDonut

Member

Re: They are correct in a sense

Yeah we have the strongest army in the world, for what? this is a new millennium. Wars should only be fought if necessary. It's true though. If we spend half the money we do on defense already then This country and the world would be much better off.
Expand your moderator at work
existenz
join:2014-02-12

existenz

Member

Top Cities according to Ookla data

It makes sense that the densest smaller areas states have higher speed averages. Metro wide stats probably matter more.

Here is city wide stats (although it also includes cell carriers)...
»explorer.netindex.com/ma ··· 20States
»www.netindex.com/downloa ··· -States/

1.Kansas City, MOMbps69.57
2.Austin, TXMbps67.99
3.Huntington Beach, CAMbps50.79
4.Flushing, NYMbps49.52
5.New York, NYMbps48.77
6.Scottsdale, AZMbps45.47
7.Brooklyn, NYMbps43.7
8.Saint Louis, MOMbps42.07
9.Virginia Beach, VAMbps41.81
10.Staten Island, NYMbps40.59
11.Chandler, AZMbps39.26
12.San José, CAMbps38.19
13.Katy, TXMbps37.46
14.Silver Spring, MDMbps37.29
15.Sarasota, FLMbps37.04
16.Fresno, CAMbps36.7
17.Mesa, AZMbps36.68
18.Alexandria, VAMbps36.63
19.Fremont, CAMbps36.44
20.Norfolk, VAMbps36.16
21.Spring, TXMbps36.03
22.Omaha, NEMbps35.96
23.Riverside, CAMbps35.59
24.San Francisco, CAMbps35.5
25.Las Vegas, NVMbps35.38
26.Los Angeles, CAMbps35.06
27.Arlington, VAMbps35.04
28.Seattle, WAMbps34.99
29.Modesto, CAMbps34.82
30.Tulsa, OKMbps34.73
31.Anaheim, CAMbps34.72
32.Richmond, VAMbps34.63
33.Oklahoma City, OKMbps34.53
34.Tempe, AZMbps34.45
35.Long Beach, CAMbps34.17
36.Tampa, FLMbps34.1
37.Fort Lauderdale, FLMbps33.3
38.Sacramento, CAMbps33.23
39.Plano, TXMbps33.02
40.Jersey City, NJMbps32.79
41.Marietta, GAMbps32.74
42.Phoenix, AZMbps32.72
43.New Orleans, LAMbps32.71
44.West Palm Beach, FLMbps32.66
45.Wichita, KSMbps32.23
46.North Hollywood, CAMbps32.21
47.Hollywood, FLMbps32.15
48.Boca Raton, FLMbps32.11
49.Springfield, MOMbps32.07
50.Reno, NVMbps32.06

Compared to Korea...

1.Seoul Mbps 69.41
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd

Premium Member

Re: Top Cities according to Ookla data

the sad thing I see on those links, Philadelphia the HQ of the largest ISP in the US has an average of 31...
RustyDonut
join:2013-05-28
Boston, MA

RustyDonut

Member

Re: Top Cities according to Ookla data

True and kansas city, which is at the top, is where google fiber was first implemented. It serves as a testament. Just shows how that ISPs can do more but they wont.
existenz
join:2014-02-12

existenz

Member

Re: Top Cities according to Ookla data

And KC GFiber rollout isn't complete yet and TWC is now offering 300M, with ATT Gbit coming. Results likely to climb rapidly every month.

TechyDad
Premium Member
join:2001-07-13
USA

1 recommendation

TechyDad

Premium Member

Double-Digit Speed Growth

One of the claims in the infographic was that there was double-digit speed growth in Internet speeds in 49 of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia. This could easily be the cable companies bumping their topmost (and most expensive) tiers by 10Mbps. Top tier was 100Mbps for $200 a month last year? Well, now it is 110Mbps. Double digit growth! (In completely unrelated news, the price is now $250 a month.)

I'd also question how they define "average peak connection speed." Is this the average connection speed during the peak time of the day (aka the time with the most usage)? Or is this the top daily speed that anybody has obtained averaged out over the course of a year? The former might be a useful statistic, but the latter would just tell us that one person can afford the ultra-expensive-but-fast plan.

GabeH
Helpless In The Face Of Your Beauty
Premium Member
join:2001-04-25
Wilmington, DE

GabeH

Premium Member

Owners of theconnectivist.com

Owned by the NCTA, which is headed by the following:

"NCTA is governed by a Board of Directors. As of March 2012, the Chairman of the Board of Directors was Patrick Esser, President of Cox Communications.[2]

The current President & CEO of NCTA is Michael Powell, former head of the FCC, who replaced Kyle McSlarrow in April 2011. McSlarrow left for Comcast.[3]

Other past NCTA presidents include Robert Sachs, Decker Anstrom, Jim Mooney, Tom Wheeler, and Bob Schmidt.[4]"

source: »en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Na ··· ociation

gar187er
I DID this for a living
join:2006-06-24
Seattle, WA

gar187er

Member

Re: Owners of theconnectivist.com

no shock that a cable organization is run by employees of cable.
54761437 (banned)
join:2013-01-18
Durham, NC

54761437 (banned)

Member

Re: Owners of theconnectivist.com

said by gar187er:

no shock that a cable organization is run by employees of cable.

Yeah, and so is the FCC. It's in everyone's best interest, eh?

batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ

1 recommendation

batterup

Premium Member

This is a joke right?

quote:
That's not to say we're not improving in some very select regions (thanks to things like Google Fiber,...
Google Fiber has raised the US ranking? How many subscribers does Google Fiber have? Where is the Google Fiber forum and dedicated direct support?