FCC to keep benchmark broadband speed at 25/3 Mbps, separate mobile coverage

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has come out with the draft of its 2018 Broadband Deployment Report, with two main points. The FCC has kept the benchmark speed for fixed broadband service at 25/3 Mbps down/up, and also concluded that mobile broadband service is not a full substitute for fixed service. The report notes differences between the two technologies and will therefore keep separate the evaluation of progress for the deployment of fixed broadband and mobile broadband services. 

Chairman Ajit Pai said the current FCC is now meeting its statutory mandate to encourage the deployment of broadband on a reasonable and timely basis, though he added that there are still too many people in the US unable to access high-speed broadband, and so still work to do. Pai recently proposed a USD 500 million project to expand rural broadband. 

The FCC had considered proposing a definition for connection with speeds of 10/1 Mpbs down/up. Critics said these speeds would be insufficient for running many internet applications and that the definition would let providers get away with low standard internet, TechCrunch reported. Measuring coverage using mobile and fixed broadband was also considered. This would have affected underserved areas, with access to only one type of connection, as studies would have said they are sufficiently covered.  

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel commended the decision to keep the definition of connection speed at 25/3 Mbps but criticised the statement that broadband is being “reasonably and timely deployed” across the country, stating that over 24 million Americans still lack access.