According to a new survey [pdf]. Still, we’re happy with the service. Ars Technica:
Clearly, broadband is the business to be in—a trade in which most of your customers have only a vague idea what they’re actually getting and don’t necessarily think you should always give it to them. But whatever it is, they like it just fine, thanks.
These reported plateaus of technological savvy seem to cross all demographic boundaries. Seventy-one percent of men did not know their advertised speed, the FCC says; neither did 90 percent of women. Seventy-three percent of 18-29 year olds were in the dark regarding this matter; so were 88 percent of those 65 years and older. Same for 79 percent of whites and 87 percent of African Americans. Income had little effect on the numbers.
Remember, the U.S. is #27 (down from #26 last week).
Ars also has this on cellphone service from last week:
[O]ne out of every six mobile phone users have experienced “bill shock”—an unexpected jump in their monthly service fee that was not prompted by a change in their calling or texting plan. It also revealed that, among personal cell phone users who said they would have to pay an Early Termination Fee if they dropped their contract, 47 percent did not know what the fee would come to. Sixty-four percent of home broadband users who said they’d have to pay an ETF also didn’t know what it was. Nonetheless, 59 percent of those queried said they were “very satisfied” with their overall cell phone service. Another 33 percent said they were “somewhat satisfied” with it.
All of it sounds like short-term profits at the expense of long-term strategic gain for the U.S.
You can find me @jwindish, at my Public Notebook, or email me at joe-AT-joewindish-DOT-com.