Crossword Genius

Rule on hard-core download speed? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

arbitrate

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'rule' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'hard-core download speed?' is the wordplay.
'core' indicates the central letters.
'download' becomes 'bit' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'speed?' becomes 'rate' (the speed at which something happens).
The central letters of 'hard' are 'ar'.
'ar'+'bit'+'rate'='ARBITRATE'

'on' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for arbitrate that I've seen before include "Mediate" , "Decide" , "Act between disputing parties" , "Help settle a dispute" , "judge" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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