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Wheeler: Minimum Broadband Definition Should be 10 to 25 Mbps

Tom Wheeler spoke to Multichannel News in an interview that touches on a number of subjects, covering everything from net neutrality and the reclassification of ISPs under Title II, to the possible renaming of the Washington Redskins. Wheeler doesn't show his hand on most of the subjects related to neutrality and Title II, given the agency is still fielding comments (and about to have a series of roundtable discussions on the matter over the next two months.

Wheeler was however willing to talk a little bit about the FCC's push to raise the current minimum broadband definition of 4 Mbps down, 1 Mbps up. According to Wheeler, he's aiming for at least 10 Mbps down (for rural, subsidized deployments) and 25 Mbps in most developed markets:
quote:
I think we are looking at table stakes for the 21st century being 25 [Mbps]. And I hope that they are actually talking about at least 100 Meg and going to a [Gigabit per second] as much as possible. I had people this morning talking to me about how they needed 2 [Gbps] of throughput to do some of things they are talking about doing with technology....I have said we should be increasing it at least to 10 for Universal Service Fund activities because shame on us if our subsidy program for hard-to-serve areas creates a second-class area of service because we didn’t set our sights high enough. That would be a failure on our part.
ISPs have of course complained loudly about the hike, given it would illustrate more clearly the shortcomings in deployment and lack of competition in many markets.

Most recommended from 83 comments



bigballer
@205.214.216.x

4 recommendations

bigballer

Anon

then....

do it already you powerless idiot!

Some of us are getting tired of our crappy, expensive broadband choices. I only have two: att (which they only recently started offering 18 mbps uverse) and comcrap.

Comcrap charges $67 just for 25 mbps down, 4 up. Expensive? Hell yes. That's just as much as my electric bill (usually)

rit56
join:2000-12-01
New York, NY

2 recommendations

rit56

Member

Nothing will change

So what do you think they'll settle at? 8 Mbps? Wheeler and the FCC who's mission is to continue to make the USA the joke of the world. USA! USA! We're number 25 ! We're number 25! Oh wait.....We are all stupid Mr Commissioner.
ggultra2764
join:2007-09-13
Cambridge, NY

2 recommendations

ggultra2764

Member

Show, Don't Tell

Wheeler's been teasing the past few months about wanting to shake things up with broadband regulation. If you're gonna shake things up, then pass some sort of legislation or take any sort of action instead of posturing to folks to make them think you are doing something.