Thursday, May 12 2011 7:39AM
The RuMBA report states satellite internet connections are considerably slower than broadband and other popular connections.
A report by the Rural Mobile and Broadband Alliance detailed the limitations of satellite Internet connections, and urged expansion of broadband services to rural communities nationwide.
"There is every indication that America's reliance on broadband is only going to increase … so it is vital that America's rural communities have all the facts before deciding on broadband access, and delivering those facts is what this paper is about," said Sascha Meinrath, director of the Open Technology Initiative with New America Foundation.
Though satellite Internet service is typically lower in cost to broadband and other types of connections, some U.S. residents living in rural communities say it's nowhere near the quality and speed of broadband.
A resident living in Glendale, Oregon, told ConsumerAffairs.com she was told satellite Internet would work just as fast as broadband. However, her connection continues to be slow, leaving her and other residents nationwide without effective connections.
Stephen Cobb, a member of RuMBA, told the online source satellite Internet connections are well behind those used by much of the world, including broadband, DSL and fiber-optic services.