UK ISPs asked to clean up broadband speed claims

Stuart Corner
Friday, 12 October 2007 06:15

Opinion and Analysis

Last month I reported on a campaign  in the UK that was lobbying Government to instruct Ofcom (the equivalent body to the Australian Communications and Media Authority) to force ISPs to advertise a typical rate for broadband subscriptions, not just a theoretical 'maximum' rate. It is making considerable headway. The 'Crystal Clear Broadband' campaign is the brainchild of ComputerActive magazine. At the time of writing it had received over 3,500 signatures on its online petition and claimed to have attracted the attention of MPs and an influential partner, the Plain English Campaign.

That campaign has now had some real impact, spurring the Ofcom Consumer Panel (OCP) - an independent body that advises Ofcom and whose members are appointed by Ofcom - to write to the top six UK ISPs requesting they give customers better information on broadband.

I headlined my article with an exhortation to Australian broadband users to take similar action ("Come on Aussies - let's get clarity on broadband") - and it produced some mixed but interesting comments from readers! So to further this cause I offer the following update on development in the UK.

The OCP says it has asked the top six ISPs for their views about why consumers often do not get the advertised broadband connection speeds that they think they are buying, and to come up with solutions that give customers clear information.