FCC says broadband-class connections must offer at least 25Mbps download speeds

Apple Insider ^ | 01/29/15 | AppleInsider Staff

[Enlightened1]

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Thursday took a step toward improving Internet speeds in America, requiring providers to offer download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second to classify as "broadband."

The new restrictions also require 3Mbps speeds for uploads to classify as broadband Internet. Internet service providers face the more severe restrictions after the FCC determined that U.S. broadband deployment is not keeping pace with the rest of the world.

The new benchmark speeds are a large improvement from the previous requirement of 4Mbps download and 1Mbps upload to classify as broadband. The FCC said that the new speeds reflect both consumer demand and advances in technology.

The FCC's 2015 Broadband Progress Report found that 55 million Americans, or 17 percent of the population, lacks access to advanced broadband. Things are even worse in rural America, where more than half the population — 53 percent — doesn't have access to the newly set standard.

Finally, the FCC found that 35 percent of schools lack access to fiber optic Internet, which prevents access to the FCC benchmark of 100Mbps per 1,000 users. The FCC has a longer-term educational goal of 1Gbps per 1,000 users.

[BigSkyFreeper]

25 Mbps should be the baseline upload speed in this day and age. It may as well be the year 1996.

[glock rocks]

Internet service providers face the more severe restrictions after the FCC determined that U.S. broadband deployment is not keeping pace with the rest of the world.

The beatings will continue until morale improves. Idiots.

[hoosierham]

I’m fine with speeds that limit Big Brother monitoring my home.

[BitWielder1]

I'd like to have faster Internet but please don't make it a LAW because then prices will go up but I'll still will have only 10Mbps for several more years.

[dartuser]

Redefining ‘half fast’ internet.

[Organic Panic]

USA tele-con is pretty pathetic. My time in Europe was wonderful for cell service. Innexpensive phones and on demand pay for what you use service available at every single gas station, Aldi’s, or bodega. Internet speeds in the backward villages in Belarus had faster internet than my high speed cable.

But the FCC doesn’t need to start dictating internet. It’s a simple power play to get a hold of it and control content.

[Beagle8U]

Mine is only 3mbs download and 0.25mbs upload. That is the fastest available around here.

[Lazamataz]

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Thursday took a step toward improving Internet speeds in America, requiring providers to offer download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second to classify as "broadband."

The FCC has ZERO jurisdiction. All providers have the right -- nay, the RESPONSIBILITY -- to tell the FCC to FCC-off.

[mmichaels1970]

55 million Americans, or 17 percent of the population, lacks access to advanced broadband. Things are even worse in rural America, where more than half the population — 53 percent — doesn't have access to the newly set standard.

And this fixes that how?

[bluejean]

Morons. As easy as requiring all cars to get 50 mpg. Divine fiat makes it so, huh? Just more layers of bureaucracy to screw us all over is what I see coming.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Weren’t you listening to Obama’s SOTU? He wants to do a Tennessee Valley Authority for rural broadband.

[steve86]

6 Mbps download is what I get and have no need for faster. Wouldn’t pay a penny more.

[mmichaels1970]

took a step toward improving Internet speeds in America, requiring providers to offer download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second to classify as "broadband."

I don't see how they've improved anything. To me, it looks like they will just eventually create a new classification like "midband" or "econoband" or something the ISP's will use.

And how does the FCC think forcing ISP's to upgrade speed will affect the customer's bill? Aren't they simply mandating higher rates to consumers and therefore less access? I suppose that's when the FCC imposes price-fixing on what the ISP's can charge. Of course then, the ISP's won't be able to turn a profit and will go under. So I suppose that's when the government throws it's hands up and accuses the ISP's of being unpatriotic and decides to take over the whole thing itself.

[Squawk 8888]

Kiss affordable internet service goodbye then. Every ISP here has a 6MBPS package that’s dirt cheap.

[Star Traveler]

That’s right ... it’s not really BROADBAND unless it has 25 megabits down! It may be an “Internet connection” if it’s less, but it’s not “broadband”.

I’m fortunate here to have 100 megabits down and 5 megabits up.

[dhs12345]

The question is how was it paid for? Through taxes?

[mmichaels1970]

Kiss affordable internet service goodbye then.

And kiss government-controlled internet service hello!

[Mr. K]

The FCC “took a step” toward making internet faster??

How, by declaring “it must be so”??

Don’t those morons think that any company capable of offering faster speed would ALREADY BE DOING IT?

[mmichaels1970]

Don’t those morons think that any company capable of offering faster speed would ALREADY BE DOING IT?

Nah...those companies just want to keep a brotha down.