Internet Terminology
Broadband is used loosely to mean “access that is always on and faster than the traditional dial-up access.” It is regulated by the FCC as a public utility, and defines it as having minimum speed of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload (25×3) / “25 by 3”
High Speed Internet is a generic term used for Internet service that is faster than the average. Broadband and HSI are sometimes used interchangeably. However, the FCC’s minimum speed for Broadband in not truly “High Speed” Internet, and is inadequate for many internet uses and applications. As technology continues to expand, greater bandwidths and download/upload speeds are required to effectively utilize internet applications and technologies.
“…communities should be aware that some applications of broadband require connection speeds that exceed the FCC definition. Indeed, many experts in the broadband field seek to help communities develop next generation (i.e., gigabit) fiber optic capacity to support current and future needs.” (ref: Closing the Digital Divide: A Framework for Meeting CRA Obligations)
A fiber-optic cable transmits data through pulses of light – allowing it to move greater amounts of data farther distances in less time, compared to copper. And because the fiber is brought to your home, you don’t share your connection with neighbors so your speed won’t be comprised. A single strand of fiber optic is capable of DTR in excess of one Gbps.
Provides access to the Internet through cable, copper DSL, wireless or other technology. In addition, some provide other services such as colocation and web hosting. ISP’s rely on connectivity from ILEC’s & CLEC’s, providing a public connection to the Internet.
Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), also known as IP telephony, allows you to use your Internet connection to make telephone calls. Instead of relying on an analog line like traditional telephones, VoIP uses digital technology and requires a high-speed broadband connection such as DSL or cable.
The data transfer rate (DTR) is the amount of digital data that is moved from one place to another in a given time.
A bit (b) is a unit for Internet speed. A megabit is 1,000 bits of data, and is often called “meg(s)”. “Mbps” is the Data Transfer Rate for an internet connection, referring to the # of megs of data that can be transmitted in one second.
One Gigabit, often called a “Gig” = 1,000 Megabits, or 1 million bits of data. “Gbps” is the Data Transfer Rate for an internet connection, referring to the # of gigs of data that can be transmitted in one second.
While easily confused, the difference is significant: 1 Byte = 8 Bits of data. Bits are most commonly referred to in DTR’s, while Bytes most commonly refer to data storage capacity.
Internet service delivered via copper phone lines.
How fast you can pull data from the server to you. Most connections are designed to download much faster than they upload, since the majority of online activity, like loading web pages or streaming videos, consists of downloads. Download speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps).
How fast you send data from you to others. Uploading is necessary for sending big files via email, or in using video-chat to talk to someone else online (since you have to send your video feed to them). Upload speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps).
Describes the maximum Data Transfer Rate of a network or Internet connection. It measures how much data can be sent over a specific connection in a given amount of time. For example, a gigabit Ethernet connection has a bandwidth of 1,000 Mbps.
A data cap (bandwidth cap) is a service provider-imposed limit on the amount of data transferred by a user account at a specified level of throughput over a given time period, for a specified fee. … Data caps are usually imposed as a maximum allowed amount of data in a month for an agreed-upon charge.
Telephone companies that held a regional monopoly on providing local service before the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was enacted, and the market was opened to competitive local exchange carriers, ILEC’s are the legacy phone service providers that are mandated to provide and maintain copper services across the nation. While densely populated areas are moving to fiber optics and wireless services, rural areas still rely on ILECs to provide services over copper wires and T1 lines.
A telecommunications provider company (sometimes called a “carrier”) competing with other, already established carriers (generally the incumbent local exchange carrier).
Is the principle that all Americans should have access to communications services.
A system of telecommunications subsidies and fees managed by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) intended to promote universal access to telecommunications services in the United States. The FCC established the fund in 1997 in compliance with the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The fund reported a total of $7.82 billion in disbursements in 2014 divided among its four programs.
The largest and most complex of the four USF programs, the high cost program subsidizes telecommunications services in rural and remote areas. The program paid out $4.17 billion in subsidies to telecommunications companies in 2013, with a goal of making telecommunications affordable to rural and remote areas. The program has been criticized as wasteful, granting large sums of money to telecommunications companies while having little effect on access.
Phase 2 of the CAF funding that began in 2014, adding $9 billion in funding, paid over the next six years. Wisconsin ILEC’s are receiving $570 million of that funding, with about $9,5 million allocated to Crawford County.
CAF 2 maintained upgrade of internet service to a minimum speeds of 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload,(10×1), even though the FCC defined 25×3 as the minimum speeds for Broadband in 2015.
Phase 1 provided $269 million in 2012 and 2013, including $38 million for Wisconsin.
The Federal Communications Commission regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. An independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress, the Commission is the federal agency responsible for implementing and enforcing America’s communications law and regulations.