If it's not 25Mbps - Its not Broadband (FCC)

crawler

The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday voted to change the definition of broadband to connection speeds of 25 megabits per second or higher, casting aside the previous standard of 4 megabits per second.

If speeds don't reach the threshold, Internet providers cannot call the connection "broadband." Under the new standard, about one-fifth of Americans would lack access to "high-speed" Internet.

FCC commissioners passed the measure in a 3-2 vote.

Many Internet service providers had opposed the definition change. The ruling enhances the FCC's legal power to push providers to boost connection speeds to levels it deems suitable.

The FCC could also use the scope of the law to allow easier entry into broadband markets, including by municipalities. The change comes amid a pending $45 billion merger of Comcast and Time Warner Cable, giants who the rule would affect.

Comcast holdings include NBCUniversal, the parent company of CNBC.

The FCC could also use the standard to guide its decisions on doling out subsidies that encourage broadband deployment and network improvements. The agency has not typically used reports like the one that set the broadband definition to tighten regulations, experts told Reuters.


http://www.cnbc.com/id/102355635#

FSL

That would mean that officially 95% of the land mass of this country doesn't have broadband. Unfortunately it's not news.

cnocbui

They also drive on the right, which likewise, I don't see as really affecting us that much.

Nolars

FSL wrote: »

That would mean that officially 95% of the land mass of this country doesn't have broadband. Unfortunately it's not news.

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/item/40426-anything-less-than-25mbps/

It means 43% do have broadband if we go by the definition in Ireland.