The FCC redefined what constitutes a broadband connection in the United States, shifting the benchmark from a download speed of 25Mbps and an upload speed of 3Mbps to a new standard. This update, announced on March 15th in a document published by FCC News titled “FCC Increases Broadband Speed Benchmark,” signifies a significant change after nearly a decade of maintaining the previous definition. The new threshold states that any internet connection slower than 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload is no longer legally considered a broadband connection.
FCC’s Report Highlights America’s Internet Infrastructure Challenges
The FCC’s decision to raise the broadband speed benchmark is rooted in both customer needs and the capabilities of internet service providers. However, the FCC also acknowledges the shortcomings of the current internet infrastructure in the United States. According to the report, 24 million Americans lack access to a non-satellite “fixed terrestrial broadband service,” including 28% of people in rural areas and 23% of those in Tribal lands. Additionally, 45 million Americans do not have access to either a 100Mbps/20Mbps internet connection or a 35/3Mbps 5G connection, with 9% of the population failing to meet the 5G requirements.
Hope for Improved Internet Connectivity
While the report sheds light on the deficiencies in internet accessibility across the country, the FCC’s new regulations aim to spur action among US internet service providers (ISPs) to accelerate the pace of internet connectivity expansion. By setting higher standards and encouraging the adoption of faster internet technologies, such as 1Gbps/500Mbps connections, the FCC hopes to pave the way for a more robust and inclusive internet infrastructure nationwide.
