Regulators in the US have recently announced a significant shift in what is considered “broadband” internet. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted 3 to 2 in favour of raising the minimum speed required for a connection to be classified as broadband from 25Mbps to 100Mbps.
Under this new ruling, for a connection to be considered high-speed broadband, it must offer download speeds of at least 100Mbps and upload speeds of 20Mbps, compared to the previous requirement of 3Mbps for uploads.
The FCC has stated that these changes are aimed at ensuring more people have access to faster internet connections, aligning with their commitment to provide high-speed broadband to all. They highlighted that currently, around 28% of Americans living in rural areas are not adequately connected.
FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel described this adjustment as long overdue, emphasising that it will help regulators better understand the extent to which low-income neighbourhoods and rural communities lack sufficient internet access. Additionally, the commission has set a “long-term goal” of achieving download speeds of 1Gbps and upload speeds of 500Mbps.
This move comes after the FCC raised its minimum speed metrics from 4Mbps to 25Mbps in 2015. Since then, there have been calls from politicians and officials to further increase these standards, particularly to address the digital disparities highlighted during the pandemic.
Ms Rosenworcel acknowledged that the COVID-19 crisis underscored the depth of the digital divide in the US, prompting the FCC to take decisive action to bridge this gap. She affirmed the commission’s commitment to addressing this issue head-on, stating, “That is why we are now in the bold business of fixing this divide.”
