Q: I Have a 56K modem. Why isn’t my download speed even close to 56K?

A: There could be several reasons—and most of them aren’t your ISP’s fault. First of all, static electricity caused by radio signals, power lines, and other sources interfere with most 56K modem signals, forcing them to fall back to 42-50Kbps. 56K modems also require a clean, straight through telephone connection to the Telephone Company’s central office switching center. Phone company line amplifiers that boost a telephone signal over a long distance, PBX switchboard systems, and other phone equipment alter the phone signal and force 56K modems to fall back to speeds of 33.6Kbps and lower. Finally, the FCC doesn’t allow 56K modems to use the full range of signals that phone company equipment can generate. They’re concerned that it will cause static interference to other phone lines. So no 56K modems in the United States ever connect at 56K. Most 56K modem users seem to connect at speeds of 44-48Kbps.