FCC chair wants to boost broadband standard to 100Mbps
FCC boss says 25Mbps isn't cutting it, Americans deserve 100Mbps now, gigabit later The Register
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FCC Proposes Increasing Broadband Speeds to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals
In a statement released this week, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has proposed raising the minimum broadband standard in the United States. The current speeds of 25Mbps down and 3Mbps up are considered insufficient, and Rosenworcel aims to at least quadruple these lower bounds. The long-term goal is to achieve speeds of 1Gbps down and 500Mbps up.
Revising the Minimum Broadband Standard
Rosenworcel’s proposal suggests increasing the minimum broadband standard to 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up. This would be the first revision in eight years. Prior to 2015, broadband in the US was defined as at least 4Mbps down and 1Mbps up. Rosenworcel emphasizes that in today’s world, access to affordable, high-speed internet is essential for everyone, without exceptions. She believes that anything short of connecting 100 percent of the population is not good enough.
Importance of Upload Bandwidth
The increase in minimum upload bandwidth is particularly significant in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to remote work and school. Collaborating remotely requires a decent uplink and low latency, making higher upload speeds crucial.
Aligning with Broadband Development Programs
The proposed change in broadband standards aligns with existing broadband development programs, such as the Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM). The FCC recently adopted this program, which provides financial incentives to ISPs that deploy broadband service in under-served regions. To qualify for the Enhanced A-CAM program and its $13.5 billion in funding over the next 10 years, service providers will now be required to offer speeds of at least 100/20Mbps.
Challenges and Funding
As previously reported, 42 million Americans still lack access to decent broadband internet. If the FCC adopts more stringent broadband standards, this number is expected to increase unless telecommunication companies improve their services. The accuracy of broadband coverage maps has also been questioned, with policymakers in some areas complaining about inaccurate depictions of service availability and speeds.
Internet service providers will also need to achieve speeds of at least 100/20Mbps to qualify for funding under the Biden administration’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. This program was introduced as part of the bipartisan infrastructure deal signed into law in 2021. Last month, President Biden revealed his plan to distribute these funds among the states and territories.
Future Goals
Rosenworcel envisions even faster connectivity in the future. The FCC has proposed establishing a national goal of 1Gbps download speeds and 500Mbps uploads. While fiber internet service capable of these speeds is available in many metropolitan areas, it remains a long-term project to extend this level of connectivity nationwide.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The article discusses the need for better broadband speeds and connectivity in the US, which is related to improving infrastructure and technological innovation.
- SDG 4: Quality Education – The article mentions the shift to remote work and school during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the importance of reliable and high-speed internet access for education.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article mentions the Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) program and the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, which involve partnerships between the government and service providers to improve broadband access.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology (ICT) and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the internet in least developed countries by 2020 – The article discusses the proposal to raise the minimum broadband standard to 100Mbps down and 20Mbps up, aiming to provide better internet access to all Americans.
- Target 4.c: By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing States – Although not directly mentioned in the article, the need for reliable internet access for remote education aligns with the goal of improving access to qualified teachers through technology.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 9.c.1: Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology – While not explicitly mentioned in the article, the proposal to improve broadband speeds and connectivity can be measured by the increase in the proportion of the population covered by high-speed internet networks.
- Indicator 4.c.1: Proportion of teachers in: (a) pre-primary; (b) primary; (c) lower secondary; and (d) upper secondary education who have received at least the minimum organized teacher training (e.g., pedagogical training) pre-service or in-service required for teaching at the relevant level in a given country – Although not directly mentioned in the article, the use of technology for remote education relies on the training and qualification of teachers, which can be measured by the proportion of teachers who have received relevant training.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology (ICT) and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the internet in least developed countries by 2020 | Indicator 9.c.1: Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.c: By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing States | Indicator 4.c.1: Proportion of teachers in: (a) pre-primary; (b) primary; (c) lower secondary; and (d) upper secondary education who have received at least the minimum organized teacher training (e.g., pedagogical training) pre-service or in-service required for teaching at the relevant level in a given country |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | N/A | N/A |
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Source: theregister.com
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