The Federal Communications Commission wants to find out whether broadband providers are delivering Internet connections that are as fast as advertised.
The FCC is seeking 10,000 volunteers to take part in a study of residential broadband speeds. Specialized equipment will be installed in homes to measure Internet connections. Those results will then be compared with advertised speeds. The agency hopes to get a cross section of volunteers who subscribe to broadband services provided by a range of phone and cable TV companies.
The new project grows out of several proposals outlined in the FCC's national broadband plan, released in March.
According to data cited in the national broadband plan, average residential download speeds are typically only half as fast as the maximum speeds advertised by U.S. broadband providers.