Key facts
- The FCC has eliminated the gigabit speed goal previously set during the Biden administration.
- The agency now considers current broadband deployment in the US to be reasonable and timely.
- The FCC stated the gigabit goal was not 'technologically neutral' and could be prejudicial to slower technologies like satellite and fixed wireless.
- The current broadband benchmark remains 100Mbps downstream and 20Mbps upstream.
- Commissioner Anna Gomez dissented, arguing that lowering standards is contrary to technological neutrality.
- The FCC's analysis focused solely on deployment availability, excluding affordability and usability.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has officially eliminated the gigabit speed goal that was established during the Biden administration, declaring that current levels of broadband deployment in the United States are now considered acceptable. This decision, finalized on August 14, shifts the agency's focus away from accelerating deployment towards a technologically neutral approach.
Previously, in 2024, the FCC had raised its broadband benchmark to 100Mbps downstream and 20Mbps upstream, while also setting a long-term goal of 1Gbps download and 500Mbps upload speeds as a guidepost. However, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who had opposed the gigabit goal, successfully pushed for its removal, arguing it was not mandated by Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act and could violate the obligation for technological neutrality. The FCC stated that predicting long-term technological developments and consumer preferences is impossible.
Industry groups like NCTA and CTIA supported the FCC's reasoning. The agency argued that the gigabit goal could be "unreasonably prejudicial" to technologies like satellite and fixed wireless that currently do not support such speeds. However, they clarified that the decision was not solely to accommodate slower technologies but rather a prudent move due to the unpredictability of future consumer needs and technological advancements.
Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez dissented, asserting that lowering standards to meet certain technologies is the antithesis of technological neutrality. She argued that all technologies should be evaluated against the same standard, and that the FCC should not eliminate goals to allow underperforming technologies to flourish. Gomez also noted that the current report omits affordability and usability from its analysis, which she believes are crucial for ensuring universal connectivity.
The FCC's latest report concluded that broadband deployment meets the statutory standard of being reasonable and timely. It reported that approximately 94 percent of Americans have access to fixed wireline service at the 100/20 Mbps benchmark, with this figure rising to 97 percent when including fixed wireless and 99.7 percent with satellite service. Despite this high availability, the report acknowledged that a significant portion of households have only one choice for modern wireline or fixed wireless service. The agency also stated that broadband prices are decreasing, citing third-party evidence and industry lobby groups, while omitting data from advocacy groups that suggest prices have risen.