NCTA: Broadband Market Going Gangbusters

Says FCC study shows able ops are delivering the broadband goods

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/15/2013 5:19:06 PM

The National Cable and Telecommunications Association was using the FCC's just-released Measuring Broadband America report Friday to pitch the broadband marketplace as "healthy, competitive and growing."

In a blog posting, NCTA said the takeaway from the report was that cable operators were delivering, and even over-delivering, advertised speeds (99% of advertised download speeds during peak periods on average). That was consistent with the FCC's July study.

But NCTA was also spotlighting a competitor, satellite broadband, which it said the study showed was had significantly improved its service quality, delivering well above its advertised speeds.

NCTA wants to make the point that satellite is a growing competitor -- the more competitive the market, the stronger the argument for deregulation.

It also pointed to the migration of consumers to higher tiers. "Perhaps the most important takeaway of the Commission's study is the clear evidence that consumers are reaping the benefits of faster and more robust broadband connections," said NCTA.