In a method and system for characterizing Internet application performance, requests for media items from at least one client can be identified. For each of request, a request time, an Internet service provider identity, a location of the client, a data quantity transferred, and an elapsed time for fulfillment of the request can be determined. An evaluation period, a geographic boundary, and an Internet service provider can be identified, and matching requests can be determined, where the matching requests have a request time within the evaluation period, a location within the geographic boundary, and an Internet service provider identity corresponding to the Internet service provider. A transfer rate for each matching request can be calculated based on the data quantity transferred and elapsed time. A percentage of matching requests with a transfer rate meeting a transfer threshold can then be calculated.