FCC’s free broadband speed test may tip disclosure requirement

The FCC has posted a free broadband test page on its broadband plan site, hoping (we think) to both alert consumers to broadband speed scams and to get some direct information on just where fast Internet is — and isn’t — available. The test takes only minutes to run and provides a pretty accurate test of download, upload, latency and jitter performance (or at least, a test consistent with those provided by other sites).

Only the first two are part of normal ISP advertising, so the fact the latter two are included may be an indication the FCC plans to publish data or require disclosure in those areas. The long-awaited (and already much-debated) national broadband plan is due next week.