NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] A Broadband Survey That Asks the Right Questions
A Broadband Survey That Asks the Right Questions
http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000697.html
Greetings. There's been considerable controversy -- including
skepticism from yours truly regarding methodology -- related to the
FCC's recently launched broadband performance self-testing regime --
e.g. "Why I'm Skeptical of the FCC's Call for User Broadband Testing"
( http://bit.ly/dApdft [Lauren's Blog] ) and "Amid Vendors'
Finger-Pointing, FCC Says: "We Don't Endorse Our Broadband Speed
Tests!" ( http://bit.ly/aLAKIi [Lauren's Blog] ).
But the FCC's moves in this regard do bring up some interesting
questions -- such as just how satisfied are broadband Internet users
with their Internet access service and ISPs? It's possible that many
subscribers are far less (or far more!) comfortable with the value
rendered by their ISPs than may be popularly assumed.
The FCC broadband tests didn't ask about such issues, so I will.
Under the auspices of my GCTIP project ( http://www.gctip.org) , I've
deployed a survey that asks a number of questions regarding typical
consumer or business Internet broadband access services -- including
key queries that the FCC chose not to make.
The GCTIP Broadband Survey:
http://www.gctip.org/broadband-survey
asks what sort of Internet access service you have, the provisioned
maximum speeds at your service level, and so on. If you've performed
the FCC Broadband Tests, you can provide that data as well for
comparison purposes. Perhaps most importantly, the survey asks about
your satisfaction with your ISP, inquires regarding your feelings
about ISP competition in your local area, and provides room for any
other of your comments.
This is a self-selected survey of course (in the same way that the FCC
broadband test project is consumer self-selected), so it will not have
a basis for statistical rigor. On the other hand, I will promise up
front not to use the results of the survey in any broadband planning
proposals to Congress, and would not suggest that this data would have
any value beyond helping observers get a feel for the range of
situations, configurations, and feelings about ISP performance and
value that participants in the survey choose to reveal. Naturally I
will only report data from the survey participants in aggregate and
summary form, without exposing any individually identifiable
information that users might have (optionally) provided.
This survey is not limited to the United States. Wherever you are in
the world, I hope you'll devote a few minutes to taking the
GCTIP Broadband Survey ( http://www.gctip.org/broadband-survey ).
Your consideration and participation is, as always, very much
appreciated!
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein
lauren@vortex.com
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
http://www.pfir.org/lauren
Co-Founder, PFIR
- People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Co-Founder, NNSquad
- Network Neutrality Squad - http://www.nnsquad.org
Founder, GCTIP - Global Coalition
for Transparent Internet Performance - http://www.gctip.org
Founder, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein