and rarely is a 50 meg connect operating at max efficiency. Most providers run I.P. traffic on the most open routes across usa to avoid peering issues and future costs with other providers. Why does that matter? more latency and packet loss, longer travel time. Many providers also limit your connection once you hit a certain amount per month. All cable internet providers do this. You wont know when it happens but mainly during heavy usage times or just when you hit their set ceiling for each customer. There are a dozen different reasons why a great connection on paper and from a big provider actually is inferior to someones small 6 meg connection. fact.