While telcos may complain they are "unfairly maligned" here is sobering analysis by PCMag of broadband speeds in the US using an application called SurfSpeed.
"Most line tests measure speed by sending you large files, and seeing how long it takes you to download them. ISPs cite numbers based on abstract mathematics—the number of users divided by the theoretical line speed. Instead, the SurfSpeed application measures the time it takes your computer" to visit several popular Web sites, giving you a real-world measure of your connection speed. "
Just as sobering are the customer satisfaction scores. Cable companies do much better than telcos.
One notable exception - Verizon FiOS tops in speeds and customer satisfaction.
