FCC Redefining Broadband Speeds
Broadband was previously defined by the FCC as an internet service with download speeds of at least 200 kbps, which was far too low. The FCC, last year, raised those minimum speeds from 200 kbps to 768 kbps.
This change was met with disapproval from AT&T when they issued a statement to the FCC saying,
“setting the baseline too high will thwart Congress’s intent to ensure universal availability and adoption of broadband services, adding, as AT&T has explained in earlier comments, for example, setting an excessively high throughput requirement would make deployment of broadband extremely expensive and render it impossible for providers to roll out broadband services in high cost areas”.
The top carriers seem to be under the misconception that the stimulus funds, scheduled for dispersal starting in November, are for something more than building out infrastructure.
Comcast, who has disagreed with the new minimum threshold speeds and asked that they be lowered back to 256kbps, and AT&T are complaining about higher threshold speeds and the expense of building infrastructure to support those speeds.
The top carriers are free to say that they do not wish to be a part of the new infrastructure, leaving the stimulus funds for companies who are willing to adhere to FCC rules and be a part of the future of Broadband.
Blair Levine, FCC Broadband Consultant, in a statement said, “We will have to recognize that most of this (broadband) ecosystem is funded by the private sector and we expect that to continue, but government has a role to move whichever levers are necessary to improve the health of that ecosystem”.
The NTIA has posted an online mapping tool that shows the areas the 2,200 plus bidders for the first round of stimulus funds says are unserved or underserved.
Incumbent network operators can check those maps to discover where they may face government subsidized competition. The top carriers had the same opportunity to apply for the stimulus funds but declined saying the FCC Broadband rules were too “restrictive”. They now face the same fate as an average business owner, if they wish to expand and compete they will need to invest their own money for the privilege or adhere to FCC rules and receive stimulus funds like their competitors.
Related posts:
- FCC Chairman Proposes 100 mbps Speeds By 2020
- Broadband Providers Resist Net Neutrality
- Free Broadband In The Future?
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Allowing carriers to dictate minimum quality and speed of service is a step back to the days when AT&T operated the telephone monopoly and dictated both the service and specific end-user telephone instruments allowed. The breakup of the telephone monopoly resulted in the proliferation of services and technolody we have today. The free-market approach should be applied to quality and speed of service. Let customers decide what they want and let the carrier who cares enough to meet demand deliver what’s feasible. Less than 768 kbps is ridiculous. Even 768 kbps will be much too slow in the long run. Need proof? The 2,200 plus bidders for the first round of stimulus funds says volumes.