eLawFacts

The Broadband Data Collection Bill is the latest attempt by the government to examine the coverage and pricing options of current broadband providers across the nation to discern where coverage is available and if the pricing options are fair. For years now the government has stated that 200Kbps was considered “high-speed internet” despite the needs of the internet and the common user for a higher speed in order to care of all of the consumers needs online. This new study has raised this speed to 768Kbps to 1.5 Mbps, and is attempting to learn all that it can through smaller government agencies in order to promote safe child activities on the internet and encourage more providers to offer services.

It is hoped that by tracking internet usage, it will allow the government to understand the needs of the average consumer. However, many consumers are expressing concerns that this new bill will only lead to new taxes and other restrictions on their internet rights. Indeed, some past studies have ended in exactly this result so some fears may be well founded. Regardless, it is important for this study to be commenced in order for more broadband providers to offer higher levels of internet speeds at lowers prices with greater coverage.

As of 2008, coverage extended supposedly into rural areas with at least seven providers being available per area. However, the Broadband Data Collection Bill will examine how accurate this coverage map really is and will work to provide more grants for businesses wishing to offer broadband coverage. In addition, more grants will become available to increase the frequency of this and other studies in the hopes of providing more broadband services like the United Kingdom, which is completely covered by high-speed internet, or Japan whose internet speed is far beyond our own.