The Federal Communications Commission has finally upgraded the official definition of broadband. Here’s why that change matters to you.
When I started using the internet in the 1970s, my business used a 1.544 megabits per second (Mbps) T1 connection. At home, I was lucky to have a 1,200 baud connection that delivered 1.2 kilobit per second (Kbps).
We’ve gotten much faster since then. However, since January 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has defined « broadband » as 25 Mbps for downloads and 3 Mbps for downloads. Now, as last, the FCC has redefined broadband as a more robust 100Mbps for downloads and 20Mbps for uploads.
Everyone knows the market reality is that no one considers ‘high-speed’ internet as 25/3. I haven’t had an internet connection at that speed in 20 years. You can’t even buy internet that slow in my hometown of Asheville, NC.
We’re lucky, though. Just because I and others in my area have access to high-speed fiber and cable internet doesn’t mean people in rural areas do.
As of December 2022, broadband service (excluding satellite) has not been physically deployed to approximately 24 million Americans, including almost 28% of Americans in rural areas, and more than 23% of people living on Tribal land.
Mobile 5G coverage at minimum speeds of 35/3 Mbps isn’t available to about 9% of all Americans, to almost 36% of Americans in rural areas, and to more than 20% of people living on Tribal lands.
