Almost no one gets the internet performance that their ISP advertises. Variables make speeds impossible to predict, and the providers advertise the best possible speed.  The difference between the advertised speed and the real speed should be reasonably close.  If you are regularly getting 70% of what you are promised, you have a serious bottleneck.  Visit www.speedtest.net, and click on “Begin Test” to find out what your internet speeds are.  You will get three numbers… ping… download… and upload.  The important number here is the download.  Compare that number to the promised speeds from your provider.

You should also run that test from several devices on your network (if you have them) and compare the numbers.  Speedtest.net has apps for Blackberry, iPhone and Android as well.  It is possible that it is just the one system that is running slow.  If that is the case, then have that device looked at.  If all your devices are downloading at the same (slow) speed, then it could either be your router/modem or your ISP.  Call your internet provider and have them test the connection to your modem.  You can also bypass your router, and connect your computer directly to the modem and test it again.