This is an interesting and welcome move
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/19/ofcom_panel_speed_code/The Ofcom Consumer Panel has called on regulators to pull their fingers out and demand that ISPs are more honest with us about the limitations of broadband.
The group wants a new mandatory code of practice to force providers to qualify their dodgy "up to" speed claims, which accompany virtually all broadband marketing. The slowdown effects of contention, distance from the exchange, and network status should be made clear, it argues.
The panel has no powers of its own, but acts as an independent advisory body to Ofcom on consumers' behalf.
Panel chair Colette Bowe said: "This code would establish agreed processes to give the customer the best information during and after the sales process, and to give them flexibility to move freely to different packages that reflect the actual speeds with which their ISPs are able to provide them."
If Ofcom heeds the call, ISPs will be obliged to contact people two weeks after their line is activated to tell them their actual upload and download bit rates. If the customer isn't happy, they should then be released from their contract, the panel has written to Ofcom chief Ed Richards.
Research has shown that most of the public don't understand that if they buy an "up to" 8Mbit/s package, they're unlikely to ever get much better than 4Mbit/s.
Whilst most seasoned DSL users are fully aware they may not be receiving what they thought they paid for, it will help newer subscribers if they have some form of "get-out" from a twelve month contract if they are not happy with the sometimes less than quality broadband service they are receiving. In the majority of cases changing provider will not help matters but it may be useful to know that if your only getting 2MB it may be worth subscribing only to a service offering a 2MB line as opposed to an 8MB "Fantasy-Line", with the associated higher costs.
