Home › News ›

FCC Puts Clear Line Between Mobile and Fixed Broadband

Jan 19, 2018, 8:26 AM by Eric M. Zeman

The FCC this week released its findings concerning the state of broadband in the U.S. and the news is mixed. To start, the agency will continue to define "broadband" as connections that supply speeds of at least 25 Mbps for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has flirted with the idea of downgrading the top speeds required to meet the definition of broadband, which would have benefited internet providers, but in the end chose not to. The report also concludes that mobile broadband, as suppled by wireless network operators, should not be considered as a replacement for wired broadband. "Mobile broadband service is not a full substitute for fixed service," said Pai. "Instead, [the report] notes there are differences between the two technologies, including clear variations in consumer preferences and demands." The FCC will, therefore, take a different approach for overseeing each. The FCC has tasked itself with encouraging the investment in and deployment of broadband, whether it be wired or wireless. Had the FCC put wired and wireless broadband on equal footing, it might have led to less choice for consumers in the long run. The report largely acts to pat the FCC on its own back for supposed progress made this year. Pai added a few stinging comments about the previous administration's Title II net neutrality regulations and suggested the changes put in place by his leadership have led to a surge in broadband investment. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel commented, "I'm glad that the FCC has backed away from its crazy idea to lower the broadband speed standard. But it defies logic to conclude that broadband is being reasonably and timely deployed across this country when over 24 million Americans still lack access." The full draft of the 2018 Broadband Deployment Report should be made public soon.

Related

Samsung Refreshes Galaxy S Series with S Pen, New Cameras

Feb 9, 2022
Samsung today announced its lineup of flagship phones for 2022: the Galaxy S22 series. The top-end S22 Ultra sees the biggest changes as it essentially absorbs Samsung's Note series with an integrated S Pen stylus and a more Note-like shape and design, instead of the Contour Cut design of the other models.

Samsung Refines its Foldable Phones

Aug 10, 2022
Samsung has announced its newest generation of foldable phones: the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4. Both have similar designs and features compared to their predecessors, with a slew of small updates and refinements across the board.

iPhone 14 Plus Offers a Big Screen For Less

Sep 7, 2022
Apple has revealed the iPhone 14 series, with new features, improved specs, and new size options. In place of a Mini option, the iPhone 14 will come in the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen size options as the Pro models.

Samsung S24 Series Adds More AI, Updates the Hardware

Jan 17, 2024
Samsung has unveiled its lineup of flagship phones for 2024, the Galaxy S24 series. The phones sport multiple upgrades in both hardware and software compared to last year's models.

Samsung Revives S21 Fan Edition

Jan 3, 2022
A model previously rumored to have fallen victim to supply-chain issues, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE (Fan Edition) is finally coming to market this month. Samsung will use the new model as the more-affordable alternative to the forthcoming S22 series, rather than keep last year's flagship S21 models on the market at lower prices as the company has done in the past.

Comments

This forum is closed.

This forum is closed.

thenewempire

Jan 21, 2018, 10:40 AM

what a joke

The fact that he even considered lowering the broadband definition speaks to his motivations. Such a decision would have been entirely a political move designed to only let internet providers make claims they do not deserve and make it look like progress. we need REAL INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES, and NOT political manipulation.

Page 1 of 1