FCC revises its definition of broadband internet0

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In its Broadband Progress report for 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has updated its broadband benchmark speed to upto 25Mbps (Mega bit per second) for downloads and upto 3Mbps for upload. This is a major redefinition of the broadband benchmark speeds of just 4Mbps (download) and 1Mbps (upload) it had set in 2010.

FCC has tried to highlight the increasing digital divide in the American households where it claims that about "55 million Americans – 17 percent of the population – lack access to advanced broadband." The report goes on to elaborate that "a significant digital divide remains between urban and rural America: Over half of all rural Americans lack access to 25 Mbps/3 Mbps service."

It is yet to be seen how major internet service providers like AT&T and Verizon, who have about 6.6 million DSL subscribers, react to this FCC revision. As of now, the fastest DSL speed that At&T offers is about 6Mpbs max. Verizon is much better with 15Mbps speed offerings in most of the US. Below is the broadband speed map in the US:

US broadband speed map - Year 2015

The section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires the FCC to report annually on whether broadband “is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion,” and gives it the full authority to take “immediate action” if such services are not being rendered.

"Moreover, a significant digital divide remains between urban and rural America: Over half of all rural Americans lack access to 25 Mbps/3 Mbps service."

The commission voted in favor of these new speeds with a final vote of 3 against 2.

Mr. Wheeler, the FCC chairman, a democrat, went on to explain the reasoning behind their vote to increase broadband speed benchmarks by stating that Internet Service Providers make contrasting claims to the government and to its users. He complained the Verizon lobbies to the FCC that its customers are satisfied with 4Mbps download speeds and that any benchmark higher than this "would serve no purpose" and then goes onto advertise to its customers that 50Mbps download and 50Mbps upload is best for 3 to 5 devices in a household hooked upto the internet. Mr. Wheeler blamed AT&T for the same.

Posted by George Daniels on Thursday January 29 2015, 11:37 PM EST. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Technology. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0