The FCC has redefined broadband speed
Nine years ago, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel advocated for a new broadband limit of 100 Mbps, emphasizing the importance of providing adequate Internet speeds for the benefit of children, future generations, and the growing digital economy. Today, we are seeing this vision coming to fruition as efforts are underway to implement this higher threshold while ensuring better connectivity for all.
Today marks an important milestone as the FCC revised its definition of “broadband” to include download speeds of 100 megabits per second and upload speeds of 20 megabits per second. This adjustment comes after maintaining the previous definition of 25Mbps/3Mbps since 2015. Notably, as recently as 2021, outgoing FCC Chairman Ajit Pai argued against the need for higher speeds, underscoring the evolving landscape of internet connectivity and the growing demand for faster and more.
The FCC’s recent decision to increase the speeds necessary to classify internet service as “broadband” represents a significant shift from the standards established in 2015. Following its annual assessment of high-speed internet, the agency determined that 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload speeds will now define broadband. This change may frustrate ISPs who have been accustomed to referencing the previous standards of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds, potentially misleading consumers about the quality of their broadband service.
The FCC’s report dissected various areas where the nation’s online infrastructure is deficient. The agency’s assessment revealed that broadband deployment is not progressing rapidly enough to adequately serve Americans, particularly those residing in rural areas and Tribal lands. The report emphasized that the existing gaps in deployment are not closing swiftly enough to meet the growing demand for broadband access across the country.
The FCC provided more specific insights, indicating that fixed terrestrial broadband service (excluding satellite) remains unavailable to approximately 24 million Americans. This includes roughly 28 percent of individuals residing in rural areas and over 23 percent of those living on Tribal lands. On the mobile front, about nine percent of Americans, including 36 percent in rural areas and over 20 percent on Tribal lands, lack adequate 5G cellular speeds, defined as at least 35 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. These statistics underscore the ongoing challenges in ensuring equitable access to broadband across different geographic and demographic segments of the population.
The FCC’s report established a long-term objective of achieving broadband speeds of 1 Gbps download and 500 Mbps upload. This target serves as a collective goal for stakeholders to work towards, reflecting the agency’s aspirations for future broadband standards. These numbers may indicate the direction the Commission aims to take when updating its standards in the future.
In 2015, when the FCC initially set the requirements at 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel voiced her belief that the benchmark should have been 100 Mbps. It’s noteworthy that nine years later, the agency has finally shifted to the 100 Mbps download standard, underscoring the evolving nature of broadband needs and technologies.
The FCC lacks the authority to compel ISPs to increase their internet speeds, but leveraging changes in broadband definitions can serve as a strategic tool. While the FCC cannot enforce speed upgrades directly, it can regulate how ISPs market their services. By setting higher thresholds for what constitutes “broadband” internet, the FCC can restrict ISPs from labeling their services as broadband if they fail to meet these standards.
Whether ISPs comply with these regulations or resort to alternative marketing strategies remains to be seen. However, by holding ISPs accountable for meeting higher speed thresholds, the FCC aims to ensure that consumers receive the quality of service they expect and deserve in an increasingly digital age.
