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 The view of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications is that the FCC's data collection standards are hopelessly outdated, and is proposing a number of updates to their criteria.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.'"

Comments

Goatse!

[Anonymous Coward]

Goatse!

Imagine that, Deomcrats don't understand

[Anonymous Coward]

Imagine that, Democrats also don't understand the Internet. Broadband isn't a speed. Broadband is using multiple bandwidths multiplexed together to create a single channel. Baseband is using a single band.

For example, Ethernet is a baseband technology. It ranges from 10Mbps to 1Gbps. I guess by the new Democrat definition of the word, it's "broadband" even though it's really "baseband".

I guess even though a Democrat "invented" the Internet, they still don't understand it at all.

But will people make fun of this mischaracterization of the technology the same way they did for the "series of tubes"? (Which, of course, is a fairly good metaphor for the technology behind the Internet.)

I doubt it, because Democrats are assumed to "get it". Even though they clearly don't.

Is it time to blow the Broadband lobby already?

[Cr0w T. Trollbot]

I thought Fridays were officially "Suck Second Life's Schlong" day on Slashdot. I must not have gotten the TPS memo. Did you use the proper cover sheet?

Of course, every day is "Bash Bush and/or Dibold" day on Slashdot. That, and burning heretics who question the truth of the Protocols of the Elders of Global Warming.

Crow T. Trollbot

Re:broadband != speed

[geekoid]

A definition of broadband is, in fact, speed.
In fact, isn't DSL sending miltyple signals down the same wire? hmmmm?

What about cable? why...yes it does!

So you pretty much have nothing to complain about. Stop whining like an old man.