Although the U.S has made significant progress in broadband deployment, 34 million Americans still lack access to broadband. Benchmark speeds of 25 Mbps for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads are difficult to meet, according to the FCC’s www.fcc.gov “2016 Broadband Progress report”. However, overall deployment improved significantly from last year’s report which found 55 million without access to 25/3 Mbps service.
The report also finds that a persistent digital divide has left about 40 percent of the people living in rural areas and on Tribal Lands without access to the FCC’s benchmark speeds. This shows improvement from last year’s report when 53 percent of rural residents lacked access plus 63 percent of the residents of Tribal Lands lacked access. By contrast, only 4 percent of urban Americans lack access to 25/3 Mbps broadband.
The report also determined that today’s communications landscape requires access to both fixed and mobile broadband services which offer both distinct and complimentary functions. However, because the Commission has not yet established a mobile speed benchmark, deployment of mobility is not reflected in the current assessment.
For the first time, the report includes data for satellite broadband services. The FCC applies the same speed benchmark of 25/3 to both fixed terrestrial and fixed satellite broadband services. However, there is significant difference involving technical capabilities and adoption patterns between fixed terrestrial and fixed satellite services. So far, no satellite broadband service has met that speed benchmark during the reporting period.
Go to www.fcc.gov/document/nation-makes-progress-broadband-deployment-challenges-remain for information on the report.