Kevin M.: The speed on our office DSL is billed as 10 Meg service. During early morning we see 8.2 Meg, daytime 4-6 Meg, and in the evenings 700 kb – 1.5 Meg. We are in a residential area. Serviced by a sub-office box (SLIC) about half a mile up the road. I suspect heavy evening video usage by neighbors drawing speed down. I pay for 10 Meg service. What is my recourse?
Answer: DSL connections speed is typically not based on the number of users in your area but 
rather on a few other factors including: distance from the Internet Service Provider’s hub; the reliability of service; noise from nearby power lines, appliances, and electronic devices like cordless phones; and usage on your office’s local area network (LAN). When your speed drops to 80% of billing speed or more I recommend you do a speed test. Get as little devices as possible between your computer and a direct wired working connection to your provider. In other words, if a modem-router (or router) is not required to get internet service, then bypass that device. Turn off all programs, with the exception of one browser (with one tab open), requiring access to the internet on that computer. Perform an online speed test on the connected computer. If your speed remains more than 80% below your billing speed, contact your service provider and let them know. If they do not solve your problem file a complaint with your local public service commission (PSC) and consider a different provider. Good luck!
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