MARKETING OF BROADBAND SERVICES

Early day motion 918, tabled 28 October 2010 by John Robertson (Labour). Signed by 30 members.

That this House welcomes the publication of Ofcom's second UK broadband speeds report; notes Ofcom's finding of a `growing gap between the actual speeds delivered and the speeds that some internet service providers use to advertise their services'; is concerned that the current method of advertising `up to' speeds leads to frustration and confusion for consumers; believes that allowing broadband providers to advertise speeds that bear no relation to the actual speeds delivered is not only misleading but undermines the cross-party objective of stimulating investment in super-fast broadband networks and services; agrees with Consumer Focus and the Consumer Panel that broadband providers should come clean about the actual speeds they provide; and urges the Advertising Standards Authority to end misleading broadband marketing by mandating and enforcing that broadband providers should only market the typical adverage speeds that the vast majority of consumers can actually receive.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 12, Labour 11, Conservative 5, DUP 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.