Re: FCC releases Internet speed test tool

[Steven Bellovin <smb () cs columbia edu>]

On Mar 12, 2010, at 1:57 PM, Scott Weeks wrote:

> --- tme () americafree tv wrote:
> From: Marshall Eubanks <tme () americafree tv>
>
> This might be useful to some. Article :
> http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62B08720100312
>
> site :http://www.broadband.gov/
>
> It requires giving your address.
> -----------------------------------------------
>
>
> Nah, no real address needed.  Just use 123 elm street abbeville alabama 
> 36310.  That's the first zip code I found on a site...  ;-)

What they really need is something more or less like an accurate zip code, I suspect.  They want to find out what real 
"broadband" speeds are in different parts of the country.  Putting in a fake address renders your data useless.  One 
can ask why they aren't using IP geolocation; I suspect it's because it's not accurate enough.  Your address?  They may 
be interested in how many cable-feet you are from a CO, for DSL linkes.

Now -- under the Privacy Act, if they're collecting addresses I believe they had to do a Privacy Impact Assessment.  
Since I can't imagine why it would be classified, it should be publicly available.  I don't see it, but I don't have 
time today to look for it.

                --Steve Bellovin, http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~smb