The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a new program on Wednesday to test mobile broadband performance, allowing consumers to determine how their broadband service compares to the average.
According to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, the Measuring Mobile America program will expand the already existing Measuring Broadband America program to include smartphones and other wireless technology in the analysis.
"It will empower consumers and encourage improvements in mobile networks and programs, benefiting millions of Americans," Genachowski said in a press statement.
On Sept. 21, the FCC will hold an open meeting to discuss the new program, which has already received cooperation commitments from major carriers, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
The FCC released a Measuring Broadband America report in July 2012 which said Internet Service Providers (ISPs) deliver an average 96 percent of advertised speeds during peak usage intervals, and five of the ISPs meet or exceed those advertised rates.
These results are an improvement from the August 2011 report, which found that ISPs delivered 87 percent of advertised speeds.
The report also found that the average speed offered by the ISPs have improved in the past year, from 11.1 Megabits per second (Mbps) in 2011 to 14.3 Mbps in 2012.
"In the one year between the first and second Measuring Broadband America reports, the FCC saw significant improvements in broadband performance and offerings," the press release said.
