Are they throttling or is it just changing traffic levels on the consumers node?

Virtually all consumer ISP plans have an “up to” advertised download speed. Comcast in the news is exposing the dark underbelly of such statements which in practice are less reality based the EPA gas mileage estimates (the latter has minimum testing standards for performance).

There are no standards for the speeds reported on consumer broadband outside of that the provider must demonstrate the advertised speeds are possible. Without going to a “business class” connection at a much higher price SLA’s (service level agreements) are non existent. I shudder at the thought of inviting the government to step in and set standards, but if the industry refuses to do so…………

Article in Wired

Rural Americans are losing opportunities to world competitors due to the lack of a simple commodity - broadband access. With a long tradition of waiting for government subsidies to deploy new technologies, incumbent providers are not meeting the need. Rural America has long been a effective alternative to moving offshore for industries such as manufacturing due to the economy of proximity and lower cost of living, but this is no longer enough to compete effectively. Broadband is essential for the information centered work that is now rapidly moving offshore, and has even become critical to the operation low tech industries.

The usual mainstrean IT pundits are quick to blame deregulation as the culprit. The truth is we never had real deregulation, which is why the incumbent players have complete control of the right of way necessary to deliver service. Another truth is that high speed fiber, and microwave back hauls follow the routes every major interstate highway and rail track, as well as a great many of the not so major ones. They incumbents are already connected to these facilities in order to deliver dial-up. This is truly a last mile issue, and the incumbent providers will not budge from under serving their customers until (a) they have some real competition though real deregulation or (b) they get a new subsidy. Based on their track record, the subsidy solution will provide substandard service at premium prices at the expense of you and me in the form of new taxes.

Today, just 17% of rural U.S. households subscribe to broadband service, according to the Government Accountability Office. And a recent report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development says the U.S. dropped from fourth in the world in broadband penetration in 2001 to 15th place in 2006.

ISP’s to rural America - live with dial up Computerworld

Rural broadband drought puts hurt on retailer Computerworld

Orlando, Fla.-based Solis Energy has created a portable, uninterrupted power supply for Wi-Fi routers that harvest their energy from the sun, according to Robert Reynolds, CEO of the company.

What bothers me about this product is that most commercial Wifi router installations happen either on a power line pole, or a street light where electrical power is readily available. More often the back haul connection that is not present! If we need to be “thinking green” I suspect that the production and ultimate disposal of the battery alone will exceed the environmental impact of the minute amount of power a Wifi router will take off of the grid during its service life. article on news.com