The government has responded to a petition on the 10 Downing Street website which aims to make broadband advertising fairer.

More than 11,000 people signed the electronic petition, which calls for regulator Ofcom to intervene in the way in which broadband speeds can be advertised.

The signatories argue that the current method of advertising speeds "up to" a theoretical maximum is misleading.

Such speeds may be affected by the individual's equipment and the quality of the telephone line over which their internet is delivered.

Further influences on the speed which may be achieved from a broadband connection include the distance from the telephone exchange to the computer.

The petition therefore calls for advertisements to report the average speed attained by users, rather than the maximum.

But the government's response notes that Ofcom and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) are already looking into the issue.

"Ofcom has expressed concern to the ASA and is in discussion with industry and consumer organisations to look into the other options that might be available," the government says in a statement on the 10 Downing Street website.

No further action is outlined by the government - although it suggests that Ofcom will look to make more transparent information available from internet service providers in the future.

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