The Federal Communications Commission has made two new digital tools available to consumers. The Broadband Dead Zone Report lets people submit the street address of a location where broadband is not available for purchase. The Consumer Broadband Test measures the speed and latency of the consumer’s broadband connection and reports that information to consumers and the FCC.
The Consumer Broadband Test is available as a mobile app from the Apple and Android app stores or in a fixed version through www.broadband.gov. Two popular broadband test tools are used in what the FCC calls “this Beta version,” including the Ookla Inc. Speed Test and the Network Diagnostic Tool running on the Measurement Lab platform. The FCC said it anticipates making additional broadband testing applications available for consumer use and that it does not endorse any specific testing application.
“Transparency empowers consumers, promotes innovation and investment and encourages competition,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski in the announcement of the new offerings. “The FCC’s new digital tools will arm users with real-time information about their broadband connection and the agency with useful data about service across the country. By informing consumers about their broadband service quality, these tools help eliminate confusion and make the market work more effectively.”
