The speed of the average fixed broadband Internet connection more than tripled in the three-and-a-half-year period from March 2011 to September 2014, according to new data from the FCC.

In its latest “Measuring Broadband America” report, the FCC noted that actual average download speeds for fixed broadband service jumped from 10 Mbps in March 2011 to 31 Mbps in September 2014.

The study found that maximum advertised download speeds among cable-based systems have also risen from 12-30 Mbps in March 2011 to 50-105 Mbps in September 2014 thanks to the deployment of “enabling technologies” such as DOCSIS 3.

But the advertised figures aren’t all show and no tell. The report found that advertised speeds for all ISPs using cable, fiber or satellite technologies are either “close to or below” the actual speeds seen by the user.

“Today’s report confirms that advances in network technology are yielding significant improvements in broadband speeds and quality,” FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said in a statement. “Faster, better broadband will unleash new innovations and new services to improve the lives of the American people. This comprehensive assessment of broadband performance helps to keep consumers informed and hold ISPs accountable.”

According to the report, however, DSL-based broadband services are falling behind many cable- and fiber-based services, with most DSL providers “offering maximum download rates of 12 Mbps or less.”

More than just benefitting the consumer, the study found that increased speed offerings also benefit providers. According to the study, panelists who subscribed to higher-speed service tiers of 15 to 30 Mbps were more likely to upgrade to a tier with a higher advertised download speed than their counterparts who subscribed to a service tier with an advertised download speed of less than 15 Mbps.