There’s a bit of a dust-up at the Federal Communications Commission this week, over the agency seeking input on exactly how fast it should require “broadband” to be as it tries to expand high-speed internet deployments, and whether fixed and mobile “broadband” should be classified under the same speed requirements. Is it still a broadband internet deployment if all you have access to is 10 megabits per second on your phone?
Still perplexed this line of thinking exists https://t.co/7ANuX6WXbm
— Ars Technica (@arstechnica) September 21, 2017
The crux of the matter is that the FCC is taking comments on whether it should continue to go by the general rule that a minimum of 25 Mbps for download speed is considered a broadband deployment, or whether it should make exceptions for the type of technology that is supplying the connection — and mobile gets to be slower than fixed?
Commission Jessica Rosenworcel calls it “crazy” to lower broadband standards.
#FCC proposing to lower US #broadband standard from 25 to 10 Mbps. This is crazy. Lowering standards doesn't solve our broadband problems.
— Jessica Rosenworcel (@JRosenworcel) September 20, 2017
In the Notice of Inquiry that started all this, Chairman Ajit Pai’s FCC lays out a number of points on which it seeks input. From the notice (italics mine):
“We propose to maintain the current speed benchmark of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload (25 Mbps/3 Mbps) for fixed broadband, and we also seek comment about other potential benchmarks. Next, we seek comment on potential benchmarks and metrics for mobile broadband,” the FCC said. In another section:Â “We seek comment on whether a mobile speed benchmark of 10 Mbps/1 Mbps is
appropriate for mobile broadband services. Would a download speed benchmark higher or lower than 10
Mbps be appropriate for the purpose of assessing American consumers’ access to advanced
telecommunications capability?”
The 10 Mbps, by the way, is the minimum speed that are being required for operators like AT&T as it rolls out its rural coverage via LTE with funding from the Connect America Fund, and the FCC also noted that in its stance on the requirements for network performance metrics in its Mobility Fund II proceeding, the commission wanted a median data speed of 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. It hasn’t gone unnoticed that fixed wireless deployments for rural areas don’t live up to that 25 Mbps expectation:
10Mb doesn't meet FCC std for #broadband.
AT&T fixed wireless in parts of rural Triangle: https://t.co/wPCmtHJmCU— Open Broadband (@OpenBBNet) August 15, 2017
So it 10 Mbps the bare minimum that customers ought to be able to expect for “universal service”-type connectivity even in rural areas, or should it be considered an advanced communications, “broadband” deployment? Should mobile broadband need to be as fast as fixed to be considered broadband? I guess that’s going to get hashed out. But if 10 Mbps does end up being defined as broadband, broadband coverage maps are certainly going to look a lot better, real fast.
As luck would have it, the chairman himself is on a tour of rural areas, including his hometown in Kansas this week, talking up the need to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural connectivity access.
Enjoyed having Chairman @AjitPaiFCC in @OzarkMO yesterday to talk about the importance of expanding rural broadband! https://t.co/zyfQtYx1XR
— U.S. Rep. Billy Long (@USRepLong) September 21, 2017
Terrific meeting Galen Manners of fixed wireless ISP Wave Wireless! Wave's connecting Parsons (including my parents) & smaller towns nearby. pic.twitter.com/89LYFyprmV
— Ajit Pai (@AjitPai) September 21, 2017
Some say we can’t afford to bring high-speed connectivity to places like rural Kansas. I say we can’t afford not to. https://t.co/axXfq71Mza
— Ajit Pai (@AjitPai) September 22, 2017
I have to say, I’m curious as to just how “high-speed” the “high-speed” is that he’s talking about.
I welcome thoughts and input at [email protected]
