That FCC data is useless. The info about an area being shown as covered if one person in that Zip Code has service is accurate as to how the data is compiled.
And yes, before some entitled person (one who thinks they are entitled to an unlimited usage 50/50 Mbps connection for $29.95)speaks up and says I chose to live in the country, so I don't deserve Internet, you are partially right. I did choose to live in the country so I did not have to be around people like you who are entitled to a 50/50 but don't think I deserve a 2/512 connection because my address is rural.
Now that's out of the way. And it is true, I would be most satisfied to have a 2/512 connection.
However, the story is about how the FCC compiles data, so back to that. Their data says I have 7 options. I live 30 miles from the third largest city (150,000) in my state. I live about 10 miles from 2 towns (about 1200/5000) that both have DSL and cable. I live 8 miles from a town (600) that has DSL. I live 2 miles from a township (250) that also has DSL. When my cell carrier moved to 3G it pretty much broke my cell phone service - voice calls. My only option is dial-up and satellite.
Now remember this post is not about me not having a decent connection. This post is about how horribly skewed the facts are about broadband Internet penetration.
My lack of service is another story and most will say it is less important than the masses having FTTP. They will say that in spite of the fact that some research will prove that mean monthly Internet usage is 2 -5 GB and average monthly Internet usage is 6 - 20 GB. It is hard to believe since every single comment you see runs down ISPs because they don't give away 50/50 connections.
If you are smart enough to read between the lines you will figure out that more than 90% of consumers are happy with the speeds and usage limits provided by their ISPs. The fact is 10% of the people are doing more than 50% of the complaining. If you research bandwidth usage you will find an eerie similarity. That same 10% are using about 50% of the ISPs bandwidth.
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Unrealistic data
And yes, before some entitled person (one who thinks they are entitled to an unlimited usage 50/50 Mbps connection for $29.95)speaks up and says I chose to live in the country, so I don't deserve Internet, you are partially right. I did choose to live in the country so I did not have to be around people like you who are entitled to a 50/50 but don't think I deserve a 2/512 connection because my address is rural.
Now that's out of the way. And it is true, I would be most satisfied to have a 2/512 connection.
However, the story is about how the FCC compiles data, so back to that. Their data says I have 7 options. I live 30 miles from the third largest city (150,000) in my state. I live about 10 miles from 2 towns (about 1200/5000) that both have DSL and cable. I live 8 miles from a town (600) that has DSL. I live 2 miles from a township (250) that also has DSL. When my cell carrier moved to 3G it pretty much broke my cell phone service - voice calls. My only option is dial-up and satellite.
Now remember this post is not about me not having a decent connection. This post is about how horribly skewed the facts are about broadband Internet penetration.
My lack of service is another story and most will say it is less important than the masses having FTTP. They will say that in spite of the fact that some research will prove that mean monthly Internet usage is 2 -5 GB and average monthly Internet usage is 6 - 20 GB. It is hard to believe since every single comment you see runs down ISPs because they don't give away 50/50 connections.
If you are smart enough to read between the lines you will figure out that more than 90% of consumers are happy with the speeds and usage limits provided by their ISPs. The fact is 10% of the people are doing more than 50% of the complaining. If you research bandwidth usage you will find an eerie similarity. That same 10% are using about 50% of the ISPs bandwidth.
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by JKM.
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