Broadband

“Broadband” is the general name given to high-speed Internet services. It differs from the alternative, “narrow-band” because it is “always on” — you simply click on an Internet browser and the service is activated. Broadband services bring World Wide Web content to users much faster than the older technologies, which require users to make a telephone call. The faster speeds allow for more types of services, such as better video, and for more amounts of information to be transmitted and received faster. As a result, broadband is useful for everything from recreational use of the Internet to research to conducting business.

There are several issues surrounding broadband. The first, “how fast is fast?” is literally a moving target. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as of Oct. 1, 2007, officially defines broadband as 200 kilobits per second (kbps), which is not at all fast in current technology. The slowest of what is considered broadband travels at 768 kbps. Many services travel faster, to 2 million bits per second (also known as megabits) and beyond. There are attempts to redefine “broadband” through legislation or regulation.

The other major issue is to find out where broadband services are available, from which carriers and at what price. Many Americans don’t have the advantage of competition between broadband carriers.

Public Knowledge advocates for a more open and competitive broadband network that will give consumers more choice while providing more opportunities for innovators. Simply having a telephone company and cable company isn’t sufficient.

Consumers groups and Internet companies generally favor more competition, while telephone and cable companies want to keep control of their networks.

In addition to many blog posts and articles about broadband, PK has published two major papers: