TECHNOLOGY · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
FCC Abolishes Gigabit Speed Goal, Citing Unfairness to Slower Technologies
WHY IT MATTERS
This change may impact the development of faster broadband networks in the US, as the FCC no longer has a long-term goal to guide its efforts to encourage deployment.
What happened
The Federal Communications Commission has eliminated the gigabit speed goal, established during the Biden administration, citing that it is not 'technologically neutral. ' The goal was set to encourage deployment of faster broadband networks.
The FCC has instead raised its broadband benchmark to 100Mbps downstream and 20Mbps upstream. The change was finalized in the FCC's latest broadband deployment report, mandated by Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act.
Republican FCC Chairman Brendan Carr proposed abolishing the long-term goal last year.
PRIMARY SOURCES
FCC abolishes gigabit speed goal, suggesting it is unfair to slower technologies
Ars Technica · Jon Brodkin · Discovery only; Condé Nast copyright terms apply