FCC's debuts iOS speed test app to map performance of U.S. broadband services

Posted:
in iPhone edited March 2014
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday released a broadband speed test tool for iOS that not only provides instant feedback on current network health, but also aggregates anonymized speed and location data to maintain a nationwide performance map.

FCC Speed Test


As part of its Measuring Broadband America initiative, the FCC rolled out its FCC Speed Test tool to create a map of nationwide broadband speeds. The app was first launched on Android last fall, reports re/code.

In the effort to map out the nation's network speeds, the FCC says no unique or persistent identifiers will be associated with collected data. Cell tower identifiers, GPS location data and other "passive" metrics will, however, be stored in the sandboxed app for user review. Along with the network health information, the anonymous data is intermittently uploaded to the FCC's servers for aggregation.

The iOS version operates in much the same manner as its Android counterpart in offering tests for download/upload speeds, network latency and packet loss. Historical speed data and real-time performance can also be accessed via the spartan user interface.

Most of the app's features can be found in established third-party software like Ookla's popular Speedtest.net Mobile Speed Test, but unlike the FCC's software, those options are usually ad-supported.

The FCC Speed Test app is a free 2.8MB download from the App Store. Users concerned over privacy issues can delete the app and its associated data at any time.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 42
    snovasnova Posts: 1,281member

    A useful feature would be speed test to content providers.  

  • Reply 2 of 42
    sporlosporlo Posts: 143member
    Um, might want to proof-read your articles before you post them. The hyperlink is messed up, and there is an extra space at the beginning.
  • Reply 3 of 42

    How long before all ISPs prioritize all data to this app? :grumble:

  • Reply 4 of 42
    aaronjaaronj Posts: 1,595member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

     

    How long before all ISPs prioritize all data to this app? :grumble:


     

    LOL

     

    Sad but true. :)

  • Reply 5 of 42
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Sporlo View Post



    Um, might want to proof-read your articles before you post them. The hyperlink is messed up, and there is an extra space at the beginning.

     

    Correct: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fcc-speed-test/id794322383

  • Reply 6 of 42

    Not bad at all, but I would have preferred that they show you the real time download/upload speeds until waiting after that module is run to show it. 

  • Reply 7 of 42
    snovasnova Posts: 1,281member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

     

    How long before all ISPs prioritize all data to this app? :grumble:


    thus, I said what I did in the first post.   This Netflix vs the Verizon/Comcast/ATT fiasco has got to be resolved better than this. What a bunch of crooks. 

  • Reply 8 of 42
    snovasnova Posts: 1,281member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Sporlo View Post



    Um, might want to proof-read your articles before you post them. The hyperlink is messed up, and there is an extra space at the beginning.

    that's weird. I was the first one to read and comment to this thread. Yet,  I had no major problems understanding it or  issue with the link. 

    Either its just me or they are very quick to fix things.

  • Reply 9 of 42
    Hey, Apple patches the vulnerability, FCC releases an app. Hmmm....

    But seriously, the app is pretty good.
  • Reply 10 of 42
    You can't get it on iPhone 3GS it needs iOS 7 :( ????
  • Reply 11 of 42
    mstonemstone Posts: 11,510member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

     

    How long before all ISPs prioritize all data to this app? :grumble:


    In the end I don't think they will be able to get away with it. Eventually it will be all open. You pay for data and no one cares where it comes from. Cable TV's days are numbered. Unlimited data has to go away for it to be fair for everyone. You gotta pay to play, but we should all get the speed  we pay for no matter where the data comes from. If you are a big data user your bill should be higher but the speed should never be throttled.

  • Reply 12 of 42

    The FCC's screenshots in the App Store show "vodafone UK" as the carrier. That's kinda funny.

  • Reply 13 of 42
    Originally Posted by mstone View Post

    In the end I don't think they will be able to get away with it. Eventually it will be all open. You pay for data and no one cares where it comes from. Cable TV's days are numbered. Unlimited data has to go away for it to be fair for everyone. You gotta pay to play, but we should all get the speed  we pay for no matter where the data comes from. If you are a big data user your bill should be higher but the speed should never be throttled.

     

    You’re far more optimistic than I am. The collusion will only spill over further and eventually we’ll all be both throttled and capped. 50 GB a month or less. “I mean… look at these smartphones! They get by on only 2GB per month. How could we have possibly been so stupid as to allow home Internet users UNLIMITED bandwidth! They don’t need that!”

  • Reply 14 of 42
    Umm...this app requires an agreement to having your data handed over to government agencies like law enforcement. Basically I don't trust the FCC nor do I trust the government to use my information against me. I do however trust Apple. But if you just agree and say it's ok then Apple can't control that. I say BEWARE! Paranoid? Perhaps.
  • Reply 15 of 42
    poochpooch Posts: 768member
    sporlo wrote: »
    Um, might want to proof-read your articles before you post them. The hyperlink is messed up, and there is an extra space at the beginning.

    welcome to appleinsider.

    get used to it.

    to paraphrase ernestine: "we're appleinsider. we don't care. we don't have to."
  • Reply 16 of 42
    sporlo wrote: »
    Um, might want to proof-read your articles before you post them. The hyperlink is messed up, and there is an extra space at the beginning.

    And why is FCC possessive in the title?
    "FCC's debuts..."
  • Reply 17 of 42
    Silly NSA, nice try with this speed test app. :D
  • Reply 18 of 42
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    weironfire wrote: »
    Umm...this app requires an agreement to having your data handed over to government agencies like law enforcement. Basically I don't trust the FCC nor do I trust the government to use my information against me. I do however trust Apple. But if you just agree and say it's ok then Apple can't control that. I say BEWARE! Paranoid? Perhaps.

    But what data? I assume it's just the data of your speed test so they can figure out the statistics I assume we all expect get recorded by these apps. It's not like the will be trolling your device or monitoring your whereabouts, which is apparently easy enough to do with a quick call to your carrier even without a warrant.
  • Reply 19 of 42
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post





    But what data? I assume it's just the data of your speed test so they can figure out the statistics I assume we all expect get recorded by these apps. It's not like the will be trolling your device or monitoring your whereabouts, which is apparently easy enough to do with a quick call to your carrier even without a warrant.

     

    The bigger question is why the FCC needs to be in the mobile apps biz at all.  Not sure the Federal government should be anywhere near web development, their other online efforts have been far from awesome.

     

    Why do they really need customized apps to collect data that telcos are legally required to provide, and can be forcefully audited for?

    Nobody is going to download this, but a tiny few weirdos, so its basically a useless cherry for some overpaid wonk to claim as resume item for bringing "mobile applications" to the FCC.

  • Reply 20 of 42
    redefiler wrote: »
    <div class="quote-container" data-huddler-embed="/t/162186/fccs-debuts-ios-speed-test-app-to-map-performance-of-u-s-broadband-services#post_2477966" data-huddler-embed-placeholder="false">Quote:<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>SolipsismX</strong> <a href="/t/162186/fccs-debuts-ios-speed-test-app-to-map-performance-of-u-s-broadband-services#post_2477966"><img alt="View Post" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" /></a><br /><br /><br />But what data? I assume it's just the data of your speed test so they can figure out the statistics I assume we all expect get recorded by these apps. It's not like the will be trolling your device or monitoring your whereabouts, which is apparently easy enough to do with a quick call to your carrier even without a warrant.</div></div><p> </p><p>The bigger question is why the FCC needs to be in the mobile apps biz at all.  Not sure the Federal government should be anywhere near web development, their other online efforts have been far from awesome.</p><p> </p><p>Why do they really need customized apps to collect data that telcos are legally required to provide, and can be forcefully audited for?</p><p><span style="line-height:1.4em">Nobody is going to download this, but a tiny few weirdos, so its basically a useless cherry for some overpaid wonk to claim as resume item for bringing "mobile applications" to the FCC.</span></p>

    I must be one of those "tiny few weirdos" that enjoys technology.

    This app goes beyond telcos, including DSL and cable and fiber providers, and with my limited usage of the app so far? It is pretty nice. In fact, the setup has a place to put a monthly cap in the amount of data it uses. And suggests 100 MB. Then gives you a warning any time you run it after that cap is hit.
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