The good old Federal Communications Commission has finally decided, and about time to, that download speeds of up to 200Kbps cannot be sold as broadband. While those people still struggling on dial-up connections would probably disagree, the truth is that such slow connectivity really does not justify being labeled as broadband. In fact, the FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate has gone as far as saying that doing so had become "something of a running joke."

As from now, then, ISPs in the US will not be allowed to get away with conning people into buying slow connections under the guise of joining the broadband society. Indeed, speeds of between 200Kbps and 768Kbps cannot even be described as broadband either any more. Instead, these must be referred to as 'first generation data' connections in a totally confusing manner I believe. To get on the broadband ladder will require speeds of between 768Kbps and 1.5Mbps, and shall be known only as 'basic broadband' it would seem.

You can read the full FCC declaration covering all speeds in this pdf document.