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Broadband isn't Broadband Unless its 2Mbps?

quanticle writes "According to House Democrats, broadband isn't broadband unless its at least 2Mbps. The view of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications is that the FCC's data collection standards are hopelessly outdated, and is proposing a number of updates to their criteria. For one, they want 'broadband' reclassified to at least 2mbs, up from 200kbps. Another requirement will change the FCC's outlook on broadband availability. Just because one household in a zip code has broadband access, that will not longer mean everyone in the zip code does. 'The plan went over well with the consumer advocates who appeared before the subcommittee. Larry Cohen, president of the Communication Workers of America, said that the US is "stuck with a twentieth century Internet" and that he would support increasing the "broadband" definition to 2Mbps. Ben Scott of Free Press echoed that sentiment, suggesting that the definition needs to be an evolving standard that increases over time, which is in contrast to the current FCC definition; it has not changed in nine years. "We have always been limited by the FCC's inadequate and flawed data," he said.'"

8 of 351 comments (clear)

  1. hooray by yakumo.unr · · Score: 5, Funny

    Fat tubes for all!

  2. Re:So I don't have broadband? by drinkypoo · · Score: 5, Funny

    My wife and I share a 1.5Mbps DSL connection with 256k up. I've never had to wish it were faster.

    You and your wife are boring. I can saturate both directions on the T1 at work without any help.

    If you want to tell us to get off your lawn, just put up a sign.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  3. Re:Korea has 10MBPs to the home... by eln · · Score: 4, Funny

    10 MB/s seems like overkill just to allow old people to send email.

  4. Re:Forgive me by British · · Score: 4, Funny

    Most American politics is pretty cut and dry. That stuff rarely gets talked about by the media.

    I'm just surprised that politicians are talking about the Internet not involving the legislation bingo buzzwords ["predator" || "myspace" || "molestor" || "terrorism" || "censorship" || "children" || "tubes" || "columbine" ]

    It's kind of like reading a Family Circus comic and having Billy talk about some sort of technology made after 1952. It just surprises you.

  5. Re:So I don't have broadband? by RingDev · · Score: 4, Funny

    You and your wife are boring. I can saturate both directions on the T1 at work without any help.

    Your boss lets you look at porn at work?

    -Rick

    --
    "Most people in the U.S. wouldn't know they live in a tyrannical state if it walked up and grabbed their junk." - MyFirs
  6. The drama of SCSI? by RingDev · · Score: 4, Funny

    What kind of SCSI do you have?

    SCSI-1
    Fast SCSI
    Fast Wide SCSI
    Ultra SCSI(1.5)
    Ultra SCSI(3)
    Wide Ultra SCSI
    Wide Ultra SCSI(1.5)
    Wide Ultra SCSI(3)
    Ultra2 SCSI
    Wide Ultra2 SCSI
    Ultra3 SCSI or Ultra160 SCSI
    Ultra320 SCSI

    Nah. Just make the term "Broad Band" a standard that is reviewed every 2 years and be done with it. Otherwise, in 20 years we'll be connecting over the Super double wide ultra fast inter tubes of doom .

    -Rick

    --
    "Most people in the U.S. wouldn't know they live in a tyrannical state if it walked up and grabbed their junk." - MyFirs
  7. What about latency? by raehl · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can do 1 Gbit/sec with my station wagon, but the latency kinda sucks.

    Also, the MTU (MINIMUM transfer unit) is 4 GB.

    Well, 780 MB if you only want to use CDs.

  8. Mod parent up by MS-06FZ · · Score: 4, Funny

    The parent post is a helpful visual diagram of how a high-capacity channel enables more traffic.

    --
    ---GEC
    I'm but the humble pupil, seeking to snatch the scratchbuilt pebble from the master's fully articulated hand